Reactions received to Chanaka's statement that Namal will contest the upcoming presidential election representing the Pohottuwa party

The statement made by Member of Parliament D. V. Chanaka that Mr. Namal Rajapaksa will contest the upcoming presidential election from a new alliance led by the 'Pohottuwa' (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) has created a strong discussion and criticism on social media. The vast majority of people who have responded to this news strongly condemn this attempt and have expressed their views by ridiculing it.

 Specifically, many people are of the opinion that Mr. Namal Rajapaksa is suitable not for the presidency but for prison. Using terms like "Welikaada President," "Prison Candidate," and "Prison Alliance," a large number of people point out that due to legal actions and corruption charges, his ultimate inheritance will be prison.

The political journey of the Rajapaksa family and the economic crisis the country faced during their previous rule have also been subjected to severe public criticism. Referring to them as "wire thieves," "shawl thieves," and "those who devoured the country," people say they have not forgotten the past suffering in fuel and gas queues. Many have emotionally noted that the public is not ready to give power back to those accused of bankrupting the country, and that they would not vote for them even if they were reborn. This opposition is so strong that some emphasize it is the public's responsibility to defeat Mr. Namal Rajapaksa, no matter which alliance he comes from.

Furthermore, social media users also raise strong doubts about Mr. Namal Rajapaksa's political capabilities and his ability to win elections. Citing his entry into Parliament through the national list in the last general election, many say that he cannot win by popular vote. People who state that he cannot even win a local council election predict that he will receive a very small percentage of votes. It is predicted that it will be a very low value like 2.50% or 3%, and that he will even lose his election deposit this time. The opinion that he cannot be elected by vote but only through the national list is widely seen in these comments.

There are also those who consider this news merely a joke, referring to Mr. Namal Rajapaksa with sarcastic names such as "Dream President" or "President of Iceland." They point out that he will have to be content with merely contesting the presidential election, and that winning is just a dream. Overall, there are hardly any positive responses to this statement, and the political disillusionment among the public and the opposition towards the Rajapaksa family are well reflected through these comments.