Saturday, 22 November 2014 00:00
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Soon after hearing the crossover of his party strongman Maithripala Sirisena, President Mahinda Rajapaksa quipped, much to the laughter of those around him: “Ranilta pitath inne maithri gedarath inne maithri” (for Ranil it is Maithri at home and also outside).
The President was making a reference to Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s wife whose first name is Maitree.
The President also said that the UNP now has no choice but to put forward a candidate from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) as an Opposition candidate.
“This is like Tissa Attanayake coming to our party and contesting the election,” the President has said according to Colombo Gazette.
He said that Maithripala Srisena has got caught like Sarath Fonseka did at the 2010 presidential elections.
The President said that some people are now crying crocodile tears but he said he will protect the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the people of this country.
He also noted that the Parliament Select Committee was appointed two years ago to propose constitutional changes including reducing presidential powers but yet the Opposition boycotted it and is now pushing for the Executive Presidency to be abolished.
