SLFP pledge to fight corruption with Wijeyadasa as Presidential candidate

By Tillakaratne Dissanayake and Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi

Colombo, May 1 (Daily Mirror) - Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe claimed that he would initiate a programme that would revive the country, hours after being put forward as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) candidate for the impending Presidential elections by former President Maithripala Sirisena. 

Sirisena, himself embroiled in a power struggle within the SLFP that has split the party into two factions, led the party's rally at the Gampaha Municipal Council grounds.

"We are ready to form a SLFP government," Rajapakshe said.

Commenting on having worked together with former President Sirisena, Rajapakshe said, "We managed to reduce the vast powers vested with the Executive Presidency just 45 days after Maithirpala Sirisena came to power." 
 
Sirisena echoed Rajapakshe's sentiments, suggesting that his party would bring forth policies targeted at ending corruption. 

"There is a crisis in the nation as a whole just like in the households. We need to form a corruption free government to resolve these crises," the former President said.  

"People  have already decided whom they should hand over the nation and whom they should discard. We have already come up with a poverty alleviation program. We understand the hardships faced by the people."