Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday came out in defense of National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa saying the parliamentarian had been misunderstood.

“He didn’t mean it that way,” the former President said addressing the media after a religious event in Ruwanwella. “What he said had nothing to do with Vesak.”

The National Freedom Front leader on May 1 had called black flags to be hoisted during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka.

Unfortunately for the parliamentarian the Indian Premier’s visit is to commemorate International Vesak Day and his call for black flags to hoisted has been seen as unseemly.