Mahinda confident Gota won‘t ask him to quit

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa told a group of Local Government members yesterday that his younger brother President Gotabaya had never asked him to step down and he was sure he would never do so.

The Premier said the government would take steps to rebuild the nation.

The declaration was made amidst intense speculation, in political circles, that President Rajapaksa would ask for the PM’s resignation to pave the way for an interim administration, represented by all political parties.

A group of rebel SLPP lawmakers has requested President Rajapaksa, in writing, to dismiss the entire Cabinet, including PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, to facilitate an all party consensus on an interim arrangement.

Earlier in the day, President Rajapaksa declared his readiness to establish an interim administration.