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President says plot linked to Fonseka was game changer
View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena said last night that the main reason he decided to form a new government with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was the plot to assassinate him. He claimed that the name of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka had surfaced during investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department, but it was suppressed due to political interference.
The President was addressing some 95 Sri Lanka Freedom Party and ‘Joint Opposition’ MPs who have chosen to extend support to the new government. Also present were UNP MP Ananda Aluthgamage and EPDP leader Douglas Devananda bringing the total present to 97. President Sirisena said there were other big names that had surfaced during the investigation, adding that he did not wish to go into details since the probe was ongoing. He said people would be shocked when they learn of them.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Secretariat. Before it began, Prime Minister Rajapaksa walked into the upstairs office of President Sirisena’s. There he met the 24 SLFP MPs who were supporting the President. Mr. Sirisena will address the nation today and swear in a new Cabinet tomorrow morning.