Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s front organization – Viyathmaga front-liner Prof. Channa Jayasumana says that anti-Muslim campaigns spearheaded by SLPP front organizations had been paused due to the forthcoming 16 November Presidential Elections, at a book launch held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute recently.

“For four years along with the Maha Sangha we made sacrifices as the national movement to bring out a candidate (i.e. Gotabaya Rajapaksa). I personally believe that we were successful. However after nominations were handed over we are of no value. I must say that now. My personal believe is that after the presidential elections we will not have the value (n the SLPP) we have now,” lamented Prof. Jayasumana hinting that he and other professionals had been sidelined in SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s campaign.

“Earlier people said no to 225 and let’s bring professionals into politics at future elections. But do you think that professionals will be given nominations (at 2020 General Elections)?…..” queried the Professor who hinted that professionals would be sidelined by SLPP at future elections.

“So we might have to think about this in future…. There are few things that we would not be talking purely because of the presidential elections. Purposely I have reduced or totally stopped talking about the (Sharia) university of Hizbulla, Dr. Shafi’s (sterile surgery saga) and other related issues,” said the Viyathmaga frontliner implying that he and others in the SLPP would not dwell on these matters during the election period due to the fear of losing Muslim votes.

“If we do we are given a call saying not to go into these subjects. Also later on we might be charged within our camp for sabotaging (Gotabaya’s election campaign). We are bearing these (restraints) with much difficulty. But that doesn’t mean Dr. Shafi didn’t do anything or that University built by Hizbulla is good.”

However addressing a press conference today Prof. Jayasumana claimed that the video has been edited and altered by the foreign forces comprised of the United national Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to mislead the public.

Nevertheless, what is more startling is that the Viyathmaga front-liner says that front organizations of SLPP has paused its anti-Muslim campaigns over the so-called Sharia university in the East and allegations of attempts by Dr. Seigu Shihabdeen Mohamed Shafi to conduct involuntary sterile surgeries on Sinhala mothers due to the forthcoming 16 November Presidential Elections.

“…Some are asking whether our camp has forgotten these issues (i.e. Hizbulla’s university and Dr. Shafi. Clearly we have not forgotten these. We only spoke about it. We believe that this should be discussed. But within the existing political context where the UNP and JVP misusing social media, if we go to talk about Dr. Shafi and Hizbulla now they (the UNP and the JVP) will misuse it….”

However Prof. Jayasuman said that Gotabaya nor Basil nor Mahinda ever influenced or restrained them about talking about anti-Muslim issues such as Dr. Shafi and Hizbulla.
“… Nevertheless we are spearheading an internal struggle and debate… Unlike the UNP and JVP we are not slaves of the SLPP. We are making these (sacrifices) for our country, our race and our religion.”

Former Governor Hizbulla has openly called upon Muslims to vote for SLPP’s Gotabaya although he himself is a presidential candidate, which many say is a move to split Muslim votes going to the UNP.

In July 2019, Colombo Telegraph exposed how Presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa‘s former spokesman- Milinda Rajapaksha colluding with Prof. Channa Jayasumana, the architect behind the Dr. Shafi fallopian tube saga and travelling to Kurunegala in what appears to be an attempt to fuel an ugly racist agenda.