President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was met with shouts of “Gota Go Home” by placard carrying vocal Opposition MPs when he came to Parliament yesterday.

The President came to the Chamber to listen to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe deliver a speech detailing the roadmap for economic revival. However halfway through the speech placard carrying SJB MPs began to chant “Gota Go Home”.

Several Government MPs were seen rallying round the President who seemed to take the calls for his resignation in a lighter vein. SJB MPs however claimed the President was visibly shocked and felt uncomfortable.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena ensured the President was spared of the embarrassment of leaving the Chamber while the House was in session. The Speaker suspended sittings as soon as the Prime Minister ended his speech paving the way for President Rajapaksa to exit the Chamber.

Opposition MPs and social media went to town alleging President was chased away from Parliament via “GotaGoHome” chanting and perhaps the first President to suffer such an embarrassment. 

However, others criticised SJB MPs’ behaviour given the fact that Rajapaksa remains the Head of State. 

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MR healthy and hearty!