UNP fires back at President's statements

Colombo (News1st): Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mangala Samaraweera had responded to a statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Jana Mahimaya rally yesterday (November 06). In a tweet, Ranil Wickremesinghe said "Whatever President Sirisena’s personal issues with me maybe, he should not hold the people he has been elected to serve to ransom by plunging the country into constitutional chaos through his illegal and immoral actions" Mangala Samaraweera also tweeted saying "I would rather be a butterfly than a leech Mr.President" https://twitter.com/RW_UNP/status/1059469130376581124 https://twitter.com/MangalaLK/status/1059461522416558082

Who are the butterflies?

Journalists questioned former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who the president was referring to when he stated that the country was ruled by a group of butterflies headed by the Prime Minister. Rajitha noted that he believed the reference was for them. He added that butterflies is a good thing and the symbol of his previous political party was also a butterfly. When journalists questioned about Ranil Wickremesinghe's meetings with the foreign ambassadors yesterday, Ravi Karuananyake stated that he was at the meeting and that they had discussed and informed the foreign representatives regarding the Speakers statement and had reiterated that they continue to hold a majority in parliament. When a question was raised regarding the chair allocated to the Prime Minister in the Parliament, Rajitha noted that anyone could sit in that chair and it does not mean anything. He added that no one in the world accepts the appointment of the new Prime Minister.

Mahinda was President's third option

MP Harin Fernando addressing a media briefing today stated that President Maithripala Sirisena has seen Mahinda Rajapaksa as the third option. He added that they are sad that Mahinda Rajapaksa accepted this rold as the third option. He noted that what was really happening was a political crisis and that Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa had set an example to the entire nation. MP Fernando questioned if the post of prime minister can be given out to anyone following discussions with them, he added that the entire world now knows that the president of this country acts in a manner which is insane. MP Ajith P. Perera stated that Mahinda Rajapaksa had told Maithripala Sirisena to the face, that he would have not taken decisions like this. This means that this decision is below the standards of even Mahinda Rajapaksa, Perera noted. He went onto claim that Maithripala Sirisena is trying to go for a presidential election with the support of the Pohottuwa.