SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena has fallen into the opposition’s trap the same way Sarath Fonseka did in 2010, today he is leaving the party to contest the upcoming Presidential election from the opposition. I feel sorry for him President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday addressing Indigenous Medical Practitioners at Temple Trees.

President Rajapaksa added that he is contesting the Presidential election this time with a candidate who joined the UNP from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

President Rajapaksa said the main demand of the opposition is the abolition of the Executive Presidency and he appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee to abolish the Executive Presidency two years ago although no one from the opposition paid any heed to this committee.

“The opposition which is clamoring for the abolition of the Executive Presidency does not support the Parliamentary Select Committee,” he said.

President Rajapaksa said if the need is to abolish the Executive Presidency, it can be done through Parliament by a two thirds majority. “The opposition is trying to paint a gloomy picture of the country and the educated people will never fall into this trap. The progressive march started by the SLFP led by former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike to establish an indigenous economy to suit the country’s culture, faced a number of hurdles throughout history.

“The SLFP faced challenges in 1977 and thereafter the leaders who destroyed the country’s culture and sold state assets have started shedding crocodile tears again. These elements that are trying to take the service personnel and the government to the UNHRC for eradicating terrorism have started shedding crocodile tears for the country,” he added.