| by a Special Correspondent
Courtesy: The Colombo Mirror
( December 30, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Bollywood star Salman Khan joined President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s “blue force” election campaign today, but turned red when a ruling party MP mistook him for another mega star and bitter rival Shah Rukh Khan.
Colombo district MP Thilanga Sumathipala wanted to thank the controversial Bollywood actor, but put his foot in by saying: “Jaya wewa Shah Rukh Khan, Jaya wewa Shah Rukh Khan,” (“victory to Shah Rukh Khan, victory to Shah Rukh Khan”.)
Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are known to be at odds and engaged in what is reportedly a “Khan-war” in Mumbai where both are located.
Opposition UNP MP Harin Fernando said the government failed to woo the good Khan and ended up with the bad Khan.
For Sri Lanka’s audience, the bigger draw was the local gal Jacqueline Fernandez who tried hard to keep her legs together and prevent photographers capturing too much skin while she was next to her friend Khan.
Khan put some space between himself and the president by sitting between the two at what was billed as a free medical clinic at the Campbell park in Borella, the home constituency of UPFA MP, Sumathipala.
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| Khan covering his face when Sumathipala calls him “Shah Rukh Khan.” |
The event was organised by the SLFP’s youth wing, a tomorrow for the youth.
Harin Fernando, the rising star of the UNP, said Salman Khan, who was once accused of killing a pedestrian by driving over him, had an unsavoury reputation.
“The president will be judged by the company he keeps. I challenge him to get down a respectable person like Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan. Neither of them will get on the president’s election platform.”
Khan and Sri Lankan-born Fernandez were received by President Rajapaksa who was seen in conversation with the duo.
Khan carried babies and shook hands with party supporters copying a now trade-mark act of President Rajapaksa who had also been a film actor many decades ago.
Meanwhile, MP Fernando also accused ruling party activists of beating up several local film personalities, including popular actress Samanalee Fonseka, at the north-central district of Kurunegala on Monday.
“While our own stars get assaulted, the president is entertaining questionable people on his stage,” Fernando said.
There was no immediate comment from the ruling party which has suffered a string of key defections in the run up to the January 8 presidential election.
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