Invited everyone except Ranil - SB

Minister S.B. Dissanayake says that they invited every member of the United National Party (UNP) apart from former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to crossover and support the new government.

“We invited everyone except Ranil. That is my duty,” he said, responding to questions from reporter during a press conference today (8).

However, he added that they never offered to pay money to any MP to crossover and that no one even asked him about such a thing.

Dissanayake further said that the government will not be going for a general election at this moment and that despite the existence of legal provisions they will also not hold a public referendum.

He stated that a strong government will be established under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and that they will present a strong budget in the future.