Colombo, August 12: Sri Lankan main opposition has named Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, an ex-defence chief who initiated a military crusade to end the nation’s long-running civil war yet faces allegations of human rights breaches, as its presidential candidate.
Gotabaya, 70, a sibling of ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was an incredible defence administrator under his sibling’s administration, which vanquished the Tamil Tiger dissidents’ 26-year revolt in 2009.
The former president declared his brother’s nomination to cheering supporters at a Sunday rally in the nation’s capital, Colombo, according to Al-Jazeera news reports.
Prior at the campaign occasion, Rajapaksa was named the pioneer of the Sri Lanka People’s Front, under which Gotabaya will challenge.
“My top priority will be ensuring security in the country without allowing extremist terrorists to raise their heads,” he said at the rally, which was viewed live on private television channels.
“I will accept responsibility for your safety, and the safety of your children and your loved ones,” Gotabaya said to cheers.
Gotabaya guaranteed, whenever elected, he would ‘prioritize’ Sri Lanka’s national security and the restoration of its economy, which has been struck by a break in the travel industry after assaults in April.
Different political parties have not officially declared their presidential candidature but rather Gotabaya’s primary challenger is relied upon to house Minister Sajith Premadasa, a United National Party government official who is additionally mainstream with hardline Buddhists.