He said that the UPFA had only one MP more than the Opposition at the time parliament elected the Speaker, but at the time of dissolution, the ruling coalition had a majority of 47 members, including the Speaker. He said that at the parliamentary election, the vote for betel leaf would be his manape (preferential vote) and the voters could pick three candidates of their choice.

The President said that during the war against the LTTE, the Foreign Ministry and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, who is the SLFP chief organiser for Kotte, responded swiftly and decisively to foreign interference.

In an obvious reference to the ongoing court martial of former Army Commander Gen. (retd) Sarath Fonseka, he said "the JR’s Constitution has placed me above the law. According to JR’s Constitution, the judiciary could not be moved against me, though every soldier was subject to Military Law."

Bogollagama said that under the Rajapaksa presidency, the country had defeated LTTE terrorism and restored peace. He expressed confidence that under President Rajapaksa’s leadership, the country could achieve what no previous administration had attained since independence.

Courtesy: Island