KANDY – Bankrupt politicians and their parties are in search of a common presidential candidate. But the People’s choice as the common presidential candidate is none other than the incumbent President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Power Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage at a media briefing in Kandy at the Kandy District Secretariat.

The leaders of some political parties rejected at consecutive elections were now trying to mislead people by shouting slogans and staging demonstrations to cover their electoral defeats, he said.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna knowing well that it could never do better at any future election, was making a vicious attempt to disrupt the government’s development programme, Aluthgamage said.

"The JVP will end up in dustbins in the near future if it fails to give up its futile effort to harm the government by organising strikes at work sites and conducting demonstrations, creating massive traffic congestions on vital roads and junctions," Aluthgamage said.

The government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who with the support of the war heroes ended 30 years of terrorism, was making a determined effect to make the future of the country bright, by launching numerous development projects in several spheres including water supplies, electricity, roads and industries, he said.

A salary hike for public and private sector employees was also being considered, he added.