Sri Lanka Freedom Party Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa revealed today (18) that the head of state has informed Minister of Justice Constitutional Reforms and Prison Affairs Wijayadasa Rajapaksa to step down from his ministerial post. He further said that this request was due to the influence of the people who are trying to prop up the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the government.
Speaking to the media in Kandy, Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said that Wijayadasa Rajapaksa informed him about this in the Politburo meeting.
Professor Piyadasa said at the media conference.
“With the appointment of Wijayadasa Rajapaksa to the post of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, we believe that the group of ministers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party who are supporting the government may have asked the President to remove him from the post of minister. They are ready to help them in the upcoming presidential election. The President cannot turn his back on the group’s opinion. That is why Mr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa has been notified to resign from the post of minister.”
Recently Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa said that he is contemplating running for the presidency following invitations from various quarters, including the public and religious leaders.
Addressing the press he said “A large number of groups have made requests to me, especially the vast majority of those who represent the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Also, our honorable Theras and leaders of other religions have made the same request. After thinking about it further, I will proceed. I will decide in a few weeks.”
