Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena charged that notwithstanding the directive issued by the Election Commissioner to stop campaigning in connection with the Presidential election from midnight today, the state media have alleged plan to continue its campaigns in bid to back the ruling party within the next two days as well.

Maithripala made the observation at a press conference held in Colombo, this morning.

He added that the government has already admitted their defeat and therefore now has launched an unsuccessful effort to cover it up with violence and spreading false rumors about him.

“I pledge, I will not withdraw military forces from the North and East. I will too dedicate to keep the peace in the country. It was the government who backs the leftover LTTE elements and the Tamil Diaspora,” Maithripala said.

Sujeewa Senasinghe MP while addressing the press conference slammed the government over its failure to conduct a transparent and open method to offer tenders for major projects.  

Citing a case filed with the District Court under the registration number DMR 3240/14, Senasinghe accused the government of allocating USD 277 million for an irrigation project in Hambantota, for which USD 120 million was estimated by an Israel construction company.

He alleged that it was not practical to have passed these projects through Standing Cabinet Appointed Review Committee (SCARC), instead of using a conventional tender system.