At several previous media briefings, he has declared that Gotabhaya should be given the candidacy.

That earned him the wrath of certain joint opposition MPs, including Kumar Welgama.

At one media briefing, Prasanna said the government has blackmailed Welgama.

Blackmailed by govt.

Responding, Welgama described Prasanna as a madman, and said he would not answer a madman, who could not obtain at least 5,000 votes after leaving his village and settling elsewhere.

The retired Army major told journalists yesterday (17) that his organization would not support anyone connected to fraud or corruption.