Leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Provincial Councilor Udaya Gammanpila said that they would collect one million signatures for a petition demanding to name former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Ministerial candidate of SLFP.

Gammanpila further said that he would hand over the signed petition to the Central Committee of SLFP.

“We showed the whole world that the people of Sri Lanka still love Mahinda Rajapaksa despite his election defeat. About five hundred thousand people were there to support the rally which was held in Nugegoda. But according to Asath Sali there were only 5000 people, and according to Rajitha Senarathne they were just the people who came in 212 busses.” the Provincial Councilor added

“Since they continue to show that they have no interest about the conscience of the people, we decided to show it to them as written proof by way of signatures.” He added

Collecting signatures for the petition will begin at 3pm today in front of Fort Railway Station.