Members of 11 parties representing the government held a joint press conference at a leading hotel in Colombo this morning.
Speaking during the media briefing, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said he will not go behind on his actions, even if the government promises re-appointment, privileges, or concessions.
He said there is a conflict of opinions within the government.
Weerawansa said they acted against the government when it was evident that the administration was going against the public mandate received during the 2019 Presidential Election and 2020 General Election in order to protect public’s wishes.
Weerawansa said they gladly accept the President’s decision to sack them from their portfolios as a response for their actions.
The former Minister said they revealed facts of the economic crisis and recommended steps to be taken to counter the economic crisis during a recent summit of 11 political parties representing the government.
Weerawansa said the Head of State, or the Finance Minister may have reached a decision to remove the Ministers from their respective portfolios in order to recover from the prevailing economic crisis.
He questioned whether the country’s foreign reserves will increase or whether the power crisis will be solved due to this decision.
Joining the media briefing, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said he will neither engage in his Ministerial duties nor participate in the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Minister Nanayakkara called for justice on the unfair decision to sack Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila from their Ministerial portfolios.
When questioned by media whether it was justifiable for him to accept a salary funded by taxpayer money while not engaging in his duties, Minister Nanayakkara claimed he could decline the salary if required adding he will still receive a salary as a Parliamentarian.
He said he can survive off the salary for an MP.
The Minister said the government must admit that its actions were incorrect.
Meanwhile, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila said he is ready to reveal in future, with concrete evidence, the person primarily responsible for the current economic crisis in the country.
The former Minister said they had certain constraints and responsibilities as members of the Cabinet of Ministers even though they raised concerns over the government actions during the past one and half years.
He added however they are now free to reveal all truths to the public.
Gammanpila said the 1958 political novel ‘The Ugly American’ is being re-written in the Sri Lankan political landscape.
