United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) Kurunegala District candidate Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today challenged United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) rival in the District Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a public debate.
Minister of Education Kariyawasam told a news briefing that he was willing to face the former President for a debate on any TV channel.
He said he was willing to debate on the promises given by the former President during his term in office.
He questioned as to why the former President could not deliver these promises which he was making now during his tenure as President.
“The former President had promised to increase the salaries of public servants up to Rs 25,000 and I would like to ask him as to why he could not do this while holding office,” he said stating that he would ask such questions at the debate.
Kariyawasam said the decision of Rajapaksa to contest from the Kurunegala District had created an internal competition among the UPFA candidates as well.
Therefore he said Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando and Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera were competing with each other for the preferential votes.
He said a large number of UNP members from the Kurunegala District left the party along with Chief Minister Jayasekera, when he joined the UPFA but today many UPFA members were joining the UNFGG.
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