MR rebukes Maithri’s manifesto

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today rebuked the election manifesto of common opposition Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena which promises change should the opposition win the January 8 Presidential election.

Speaking at an election rally in Ampara, the President said that when an election is near a lot of promises are made and some are not realistic. He said that the country had to wait nearly 60 years for change and that change took place over the past five years and so it was ridiculous for some to say they will bring change in 100 days. Sirisena, in his election manifesto which was made public on Friday, has detailed the changes he proposes to make in 100 days should he win the Presidential election. President Mahinda Rajapaksa noted that promises should be measured based on the promises fulfilled in the past. He said that when reading the election manifesto of the opposition Presidential candidate he sees some similarities to the 2015 budget. The President said that the opposition is promising to do some things which he has already done or has proposed to do through the 2015 budget and that the patent rights to that budget proposal is his.