A total of 76 members of parliament (MPs) are attended the public rally supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, currently underway in Matara, according to former Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

He stated that the number of Parliamentarian attending the event surpasses the attendance of previous rallies.

Gunawardena further said that Maithri-Mahinda government is required for the betterment of the country and not a Maithri-Ranil government.

He urged the masses to join in for the establishing of a new government before four Poya Days pass.

MPs Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, Dullas Alahapperuma, Sarath Weerasekara, G.L. Peiris, Bandula Gunawardena, C.B. Ratnayake, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Salinda Dissanayake, Manusha Nanayakkara, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, S.M. Chandrasena, Gamini Lokuge, Tissa Karaliyadda, Uditha Lokubandara, Thenuka Vidanagamage, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thero, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Sarana Gunawardena, Lakshman Wasantha Perera, Arundika Fernando, T.B. Ekanayake, Indika Bandaranaike, Malini Fonseka, Janaka Wakkumbura, Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Chandima Weerakkody, Sarath Kumara Gunaratna, Priyankara Jayaratne and Kumara Welgama were among attendees.

Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and a host of other provincial and local government politicians were also present.  

Meanwhile the leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), Western Provincial Council member Udaya Gammanpila says that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had arrived near the venue of the massive rally, being held at the Sanath Jayasuriya Grounds in Matara.

He expressed thanks to Rajapaksa for encouraging them by his presence. Video footage also showed Mr Rajapaksa waving to the crowds assembled at the grounds from a distance.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Gammanpila further said that the incumbent government’s only problem is that the people have not let go of Mahinda Rajapaksa despite his defeat.

The rally is the fifth in a serried of similar event organized by certain coalition partners of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), calling for Rajapaksa to be named as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate.