Tuesday, May 22, 2012

SF no threat to MR - Wimal

National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said that General Sarath Fonseka would not be a major threat to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the future. Fonseka’s popularity had reached the zenith when he contested the Presidential polls, he said.

Minister Weerawansa said Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe’s remarkable ability to tackle complex political issues in the midst of opposition was extremely laudable. Fonseka would never be able to replace Wickremesinghe, he told the media at the Housing, Construction and Engineering Services Ministry auditorium yesterday.

Minister Weerawansa pointed out that the Opposition and the Democratic National Alliance were trying their best to topple a very stable government.

As long as Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President, Sarath Fonseka’s release would not have any impact on the political arena, Weerawansa said.

Asked whether Gen. Fonseka would be a threat to the Opposition leader, Minister Weerawansa said that as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe was the UNP leader, he could not be removed. Senior politicians were well aware of Sarath Fonseka’s limitations. He would neither be a challenge to President Rajapaksa nor to the Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the minister said.

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

IS