Nalin Bandara Explains His ‘Pistol Incident’

 

Former United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara refuted the allegation by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that a political leaflet shows him brandishing pistols and shooting to the sky along with several of his supporters.

Speaking to a prominent online news portal, Bandara said that the photograph was taken on May 1, 2014, during the UNP May Day rally. He was acting out the ‘toy pistol incident’ at Hambantota along with some of his supporters, Bandara said.

He recalled that the former UNP MPs who visited Hambantota Habour and Mattala Airport were threatened by the Mayor of Hambantota on April 17, 2014. The Mayor had brandished a pistol, which was later described as a toy pistol.

Bandara said that he was acting out this incident at the May Day rally held merely two weeks afterwards. It was a photograph taken at the May Day rally that was used in the leaflet, he added.

He also said that the UPFA is trying to find non-existing reasons to attack the government in the face of defeat.