Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that he will not retire from Politics as of now.

“I will remain in politics. I will retire only at the appropriate time. Until then I will not go” the former President told the Sunday Times.

He also said that it’s up to the SLPP to decide whether they need him to lead the party.

“That is left to the party to decide. Even if that was not so, I am a lawyer and I can practice in courts. If it becomes necessary, I am prepared to go.” he added.

Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Sunday Times that if asked he would have advised Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to leave the country.

“If he asked me whether to go, I would have said no, don’t go.”

“He should have finished what he had to do. But Gotabaya is not a politician.”

“Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not responsible for all the country’s ills. Everybody including me and the previous governments would have to answer. Unfortunately, he (Gotabaya) acted on the advice of the experts he trusted. Therefore, he cannot be blamed. (The allusion was to successive governors of the Central Bank). When he was Defence Secretary he displayed good administrative skills. As President, he was subject to heavy pressure. He was a hardliner before. He became soft. He should not have done what he did, but he is not a politician. He should have finished the task before him correctly” the former President told the Sunday Times. (NewsWire)