Do not think of toppling govt: Sirisena to Rajapaksa loyalists

Warning former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa's loyalists, President Maithripala Sirisena today said they should not think of toppling Sri Lanka's first national unity government and asserted that it will remain in power for a full term.
"Do not ever think that this government can be toppled or weakened. Till 2020 this government will be stable and strong," Sirisena said addressing government ministers after the Cabinet was expanded to include three more ministers taking the total number to 46.
Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) have struck a deal to forge the country's first national unity government.

The two rival parties are sharing Cabinet positions in the unity government which will be in place for at least two years of the government's five-year term.
Sirisena who appointed 43 ministers last week, today added three more to the Cabinet while also appointing 19 state ministers and 22 deputy ministers.
Parliament earlier this month had approved the enhancing of Cabinet members from the constitutionally-mandated 30 members to 48.

"Both me and the Prime Minister are not expecting to have an easy time in the government. We are here for a difficult job," Sirisena said.
"We are being criticised for giving into an alleged international conspiracy. I will assure you that we will not bow to any force and cause harm to the country," he said.

Former President Rajapaksa is also a member of Sirisena's party but his loyalists are not among those picked for ministerial positions.
Angered by the decision to recognise main Tamil party TNA leader R Sampanthan as the official leader of the opposition, Rajapaksa loyalists are said to be planning a move to ask the speaker of parliament to recognise one of the Rajapaksa loyalists as the leader of the opposition.
The Rajapaksa group is critical of the President and the Prime Minister over granting concessions to Tamil minority.
They charge that the government has compromised national security.
The government since January had returned Tamil civilian lands held for military purposes in the north among other things to build confidence among the Tamil minority in the new government.

Sirisena, who retained the key defence portfolio in the Cabinet as required by Sri Lanka's Constitution, gave most portfolios in the Cabinet to UNP and its allies.
The UNP won the August 17 general elections but fell short of an absolute majority.
Sirisena defeated Rajapaksa in the presidential election held in January and succeeded him as the party leader.