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President invited Fonseka to be PM, Fonseka insisted on resignation

12 May 2022

  • Duo held talks on Wednesday at Prez’s House in Colombo, prior to Prez-Ranil meeting
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Prior to his meeting with United National Party (UNP) Leader MP Ranil Wickremesinghe, where the latter was invited to assume the post of Prime Minister in the interim Government to be formed, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had made the same invitation to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, following which, Fonseka had informed the President that he would accept such an invitation only if Rajapaksa resigned or the powers of the Executive Presidency were curtailed. The meeting between Rajapaksa and Fonseka had been held at the President’s house in Colombo in the afternoon on 11 May, where the President had requested Fonseka to assume the post of the Premier in an interim Government. When contacted by The Morning, a member of Fonseka's personal staff confirmed that there had been a meeting between President Rajapaksa and Fonseka. It was also reported through other sources that during the discussion, Fonseka, who is also a former Army Commander, had informed the President that he would accept the post of Premier only if the President resigned, or the powers of the Executive Presidency were curtailed. Fonseka has emphasised that he is not ready to accept any post in a Government headed by President Rajapaksa, and that he stands unconditionally with the main demands of the entire Sri Lankan people who are currently launching a non-violent civil struggle. The statement, which was published on Fonseka’s official Facebook page and was confirmed by his staff member as having been made by him (Fonseka), read: “I have wholeheartedly blessed the courageous youths who have been in the struggle from the beginning. In this backdrop, I would never be a partner in resolving the current crisis without consulting the Galle Face activists.”


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