The UPFA said today it would win easily at the general election because the 6.2 million who voted for President Sirisena at the presidential election would not vote for the UNFGG though 5.8 million who voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa would do so.

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha told a news conference the 600,000 Tamil votes 700,000 JVP votes must be reduced from the votes polled by President Sirisena.

"It means 1.3 million deducted from the 6.2 million the UNFGG is hoping to obtain," he said. “We have won 10 out of 22 districts at the January 8 presidential election. We lost three districts -- Badulla, Gampaha and Puttalam in a close fight and there is no doubt that we can regain those easily at the election. Then Polonnaruwa district is an absolute win for the UPFA making it 14 out 22 districts for the UPFA. Then we will get 14 bonus seats also from the 14 districts we will win. In contrast, the UNFGG will be left only with four districts to win as Jaffna, Vanni, Batticaloa and Trincomalee will be won by the TNA and the SLMC. In that background how can the UNFGG win a minimum 113 seats to form a government."

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said a discussion was held with President Sirisena on the election campaign strategy and the possibility of the President taking the UPFA stage.

“Sensing the imminent defeat after the unity in the UPFA and arrival of Mr. Rajapaksa, the UNFGG has resorted to dirty tactics. They are using the state media for their election propaganda campaign and using huge cutouts by some ministers at public places despite their criticism of the UPFA during the presidential poll,” Mr. Weerawansa said.(Sandun Jayasekara and Darshana Sanjeewa)

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