UNP parliamentarian John Amaratunga says he knew that Dayasiri Jayasekara had wanted to resign for the past 3 to 4 years and that the former MP had his eyes set on the Chief Minister post even during the previous election in the North Western Province.

Dayasiri Jayasekara resigned from his parliamentary seat on Wednesday to contest the North Western Provincial Council election under the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket.

Pointing out that the firebrand politician had questioned the ruling party in parliament even on the day before he resigned, Amaratunga said he was uncertain how Dayasiri came to a realization regarding the government in just one day.

Amaratunga further stated that Dayasiri Jayasekara had even recently asked for the Chairmanship of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), after he had assumed duties on the post.

Dayasiri crossing over has created large uproar within the government, he told reporters in Colombo today.

MP Niroshan Perera, also addressing the conference, stated that Dayasiri Jayasekara was a politician with principles and that those principles ended from yesterday.

He states that the people of the country yesterday lost faith in politics and that those who criticized the government have now joined the same government.