Gota aloof and not associated with us when he was Defence Secy - Nishantha Muttuhettigama

Gota never gave me an interview when I sought to discuss my security problems. He also refused to issue me with a 911 revolver despite several requests when I was a Deputy Minister

Former Deputy Minister Nishantha Muttuhettigama said if the SLFP is to support Gotabaya Rajapaksa, two agreements have to be signed with Mr. Rajapaksa and the SLPP, separately, because a majority of SLFP members don’t have confidence in Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Mr. Muttuhettigama, the Galle District SLFP Parliamentarian told the Daily Mirror yesterday that the SLFP was not ready to support the SLPP or Mr. Rajapaksa unconditionally as he is not a politician or a member of the SLPP and is a military man.

“If we are to support him, we in the SLFP must have a clear assurance on how he is going to fulfil the aspirations of SLFP voters and supporters and attend to the needs of the SLFP members once elected to the Presidency. I demand this because Mr. Rajapaksa has been aloof and not associated with us in any way when he served as the Defence Secretary under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. His close advisers and friends were military officers,” Mr.muttuhettigama said. “Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was very close, friendly towards us and was ready to listen to us. Gota never gave me an interview when I sought to discuss my security problems. He also refused to issue me with a 911 revolver despite several requests when I was a Deputy Minister,” he said. Mr. Muttuhettigama said the SLFP would extend its support to the SLPP and Mr. Rajapaksa only if they consented to agree to these two agreements and added he is known as a military officer by the entire country.