Min. Mangala Samaraweera says he is terrified of Gotabaya Rajapaksa

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - Convening a media briefing today (May 22), Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera responded to a statement made by Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. A journalist questioned him about the statement made by Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday(May 21). In his statement, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had said that in 2014, Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa approached Managala Samaraweera to obtain his support and that he would have been given the Ministries of Finance and Justice if he had pledged support to the Rajapaksa Government. This message had been sent to Samaraweera through Ruwan Ferdinandes. Minister Mangala Samaraweera rejected this statement however, the minister noted that as they were preparing for the Presidential Election the Rajapaksas had indicated that they wanted to meet with him. He added that "even Gotabaya Rajapaksa said he wanted to meet me", adding that he rejected meeting. Samaraweera has stated that he cannot travel to any house but is willing to entertain them at this house. The current minister noted that President Rajapaksa did meet him at my residence. Another question was raised based on another Gotabaya statement, this time one about Samaraweera being scared because he knew of Gotabaya's talents. The minister wholeheartedly accepted that he is terrified of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he said that he was not alone. The Minister went onto list a number of charges brought against Gotabaya Rajapaksa.