Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture B. Wijerathne mistakenly addressed President Maithripala Sirisena as former president Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning, during his welcome address at the launch of the national program for a toxin-free nation.

However, he apologized and rectified his mistake the next moment.

The event was held coinciding with the ‘Wasa Wisa Nethi Jathika Pola’, or the Poison-free Agricultural Educational Trade Exhibition at BMICH.

President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other ministers were present at the event. The former President was not in the audience.