FM says PM should be thankful to him

By Saman Indrajith

SJB Gampaha District MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has told Parliament that he had helped save Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political career twice.

“At the 2010 election, soon after the war victory, he could not find a candidate. The electoral victory was assured for the war-winning camp. By that time, Ranil Wickremesinghe was rejected for opposing the war effort. I came forward and stuck my neck out to save him. So, he survived as the UNP leader.

“I should also mention that you are there in that Prime Minister seat because I refused to accept it. Three hours before you were offered the premiership, the President invited me and asked me to accept it. I put forth conditions, one being that the majority of the SJB should ask me to be the PM. Thereafter, Ranil Wickremesinghe got that offer. Therefore he should should be thankful to me.

“This country is facing the worst crisis. Some seem to think that getting more loans is the solution to the problem. We were proud to be Sri Lankans, but have now turned into beggars.