“They think I will stop the struggle if I am accused and my children are imprisoned. I told Yoshitha that I was inside for three months, why shouldn’t you stay for 44 days. It is OK if Namal goes inside for six months. But, if they think I will leave politics because of that, that will be a delusion,” he said.

Rajapaksa said he was saddened not by his children being behind bars, but by the war heroes who gave freedom for the country being imprisoned today.

He said he asked leaders and the judiciary not to make various laws to the government’s wants to imprison innocent people.

Implement port city

Speaking further, the ex-president asked the government to implement the port city project, which was received free.

He said his government did not curtail the fertilizer subsidy, did not touch the school uniform, but made the country self sufficient in rice despite a food crisis, and also safeguarded rights of the Tamil people.

Criticizing the present government for its inabilities, he asked it not to repay the loans if he had obtained them illegally.

If you cannot do it, let me and I will show you how to build the country, he said.

Rajapaksa said the state property should not be destroyed, and said the pension would be reintroduced.

Wherever the people are, I am with them, he said.

The joint opposition organized the protest rally over the hunting down of war heroes, ETKA, voting rights, political victimization.