evidence: While AKD has taken the lead as the anti-corruption champion who will retrieve stolen assets, Premadasa has also made statements to the effect that he will not allow corruption within his ranks. AKD has retaliated to this statement saying that ‘economic assassins’ who had created the country’s downfall were now affiliated to Premadasa. [...] The JVP/NPP’s AKD launched his policy framework – ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life’ – last Monday (26 August) with the pledge to introduce a new constitution and abolish the executive presidency if elected. "Our goal is to establish a new constitution that will replace the existing flawed structure and to abolish the executive presidency, which has concentrated too much power in the hands of one individual," he stated. [...] Premadasa loyalist MP Sujeewa Senasinghe, it is learnt, is also backing Godahewa on the anti-IMF stance. According to SJB sources, the likes of Godahewa continue to inform the SJB leadership that the economic stances of de Silva, Wickramaratne, and Hashim will not help him win the Presidential Election. Premadasa has been informed that he needs to adopt a strong stance against the IMF in order to attract voters from AKD’s camp.