Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday challenged the main opposition for an immediate election to show the government’s strength, a challenge which was accepted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya today.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa challenged the Opposition to a battle in an election and to see if they could defeat the government.

He said that they won’t make decisions thinking of the impending elections. 

“If we had made decision thinking of impending elections, there would not have been Norochcholai coal-fired power station, Hambantota port and the Colombo Port City and even the war victory,” the Prime Minister said. 

Meanwhile, SJB MP S. M. Marikar said “Premier Rajapaksa at the SLPP rally in Anurhapura challenged us to face an election. We are ready for it and we urge the government to hold the local government election immediately. Let's see which way the people will go," 

He said the SJB will also hold a rally at Salgado Stadium in Anurhapura to challenge SLPP.