In a possible hint at the impending formation of a new political front, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that he is ready to give the people what they want and that he is waiting to see whether they want it.

“Today what are the people asking for? I am ready to give what you want. That is all I have to say,” he said, delivering a speech during the ‘Joint Opposition’ rally in Ratnapura.   

“I am waiting to see whether you want it.”

The Kurunegala District MP stated that they will be waiting on side for now to gather all fronts and stand against the actions of the incumbent government as the Joint Opposition. 

He also said that the SLFP members who have sided with the government will soon come over to their side and stand with them. 

Rajapaksa said that ‘changing the heads’ in the parliament is ‘not a big deal’ and that there is no need to wait 2-3 years as the ‘heads will change very soon’. 

He claimed that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is now being sent behind ministers and that the phones of MPs have been tapped. 

He said that a special unit has been posted in front of his house to keep tabs on all those who are coming and going from there and that he asked them to keep a chair and write it all down. 

“I will not conspire in secret. I will (play) the game in the open. We will respect democracy and do it in the open. We will not do it after eating hoppers in the night. We will not do that. We can give them that guarantee.”