Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa made it clear that his intention is to bring down the government within 2017.

Speaking to the foreign correspondents in Colombo, Rajapaksa said although the government has a two thirds majority at the moment, there was growing friction among the UNP and the SLFP members in government. The government cannot move forward like this for too long, he said.

He also rejected the notion that the UNP will take the advantage if SLFP splits and contests separately at the Local Government polls. There will be a sizable number of UNP supporters who will not vote, since they are unhappy at the state of the country, Rajapaksa also said.

Pic: BBC Sandeshaya