Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today accused the certain print media of backing the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with a view to see him back in power.

Speaking in a meeting in Kandy yesterday, he said the Daily Mirror demanded the resignation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and accused its editor of collaboration with the former regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Similarly, the Financial Times has started attacking the government on its economic policy, he added.

Wickremesinghe said that the print media will have to be "taught a lesson."

He insisted that the demand for the removal of the government arises from those who want to steal public money. The government will complete its term and no amount of pressure will be able to force it to back down beforehand, he insisted.