{"id":197892,"date":"2019-01-13T23:58:19","date_gmt":"2019-01-13T18:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=197892"},"modified":"2019-01-14T18:20:44","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T12:50:44","slug":"i-am-ready-for-presidential-polls-if-people-are-ready-gota-hints-at-contesting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/i-am-ready-for-presidential-polls-if-people-are-ready-gota-hints-at-contesting\/","title":{"rendered":"I Am Ready For Presidential Polls If People Are Ready: Gota Hints At Contesting"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa<\/strong><\/a>, addressing a Viyathmaga meeting in Colombo earlier today indicated that he would run for the presidency this year.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Gota<\/p><\/div>\n

“I am ready for the Presidential election if the people are ready for it,” Rajapaksa said in his first public speech this year.<\/p>\n

He also added this year would be of great significance to all Sri Lanka as the country was preparing for a Presidential election.<\/p>\n

Sharing on the policies and principles he stands for, Rajapaksa said; “Everyone talks about individual rights, but we also need to take the societal needs into consideration when building up a strong nation.”<\/p>\n

“Many leaders in Asia who developed their nations had their roots in nationalism. Liberal democracy has run into problems all over the world and people are now embracing nationalism,” Rajapaksa explained.<\/p>\n

The former Gotabaya also added that Sri Lankan expatriates are more passionate about nationalism than those working and living in the country.<\/p>\n

“I think the Sri Lankan expatriates have seen the world and understand what is happening on the global platforms. They have understood the values of nationalism.”<\/p>\n