UPFA Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena says that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has very clearly acted according to the Constitution of Sri Lanka and his mandate which was given by the people of the country at the local government polls in February.

He stated that the United People’s Freedom Alllaince (UPFA) which helped to form the former Prime Minister’s government “under the pretext of a national government” communicated the decision to the Speaker and to the Prime Minister that the UPFA is no more party of a national government.

“When the coalition partners separate in any country a new government comes into office,” the MP said, speaking at a Joint Opposition press briefing in Colombo today (27).

He stated that this has happened in Europe recently and that it is very clear. “But according to our constitution the prime minister ceases to be the prime minister of that government.”

“So there is a new government which the president has to form immediately by calling the person who enjoys the majority of members support in parliament and that is Mahinda Rajapaksa, who not only today has support of parliamentary members  but the overwhelming support of the people of our country,” he said.

Gunawardena said that in February the people gave Rajapaksa the clear mandate that he has their support.

“Plus the collapse of our economy, collapse of good governance, the anti-democratic measures of the present Prime Minister and his government has brought this country to a virtual anarchy and catastrophe,” he said.

“We have to rebuild our nation,” he said, adding that this is the mission of the President; to restore what has been lost and to bring about a general election which will give the people a mandate to elect a new parliament.