President Maithripala Sirisena has asked ministers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to stand by him until December 31, political sources indicate. 

The President had reportedly made this request at a meeting with SLFP ministers at the President’s house on Tuesday (11).

President Sirisena is reported to have said he would not beg anyone who wanted to leave to refrain from leaving.

He is said to have said this, taking into consideration what the ministers of the SLFP were saying about leaving or staying in the government.

A group of ministers had expressed their disinclination to continue with the United National Party (UNP) but still others had said they would continue to stand by the President.

Taking all that the ministers said into consideration, the President responded reminding the ministers present that the next Presidential election will be in 2020.

Therefore it was too early to make a decision on these things, the President said, asking the Ministers to stand by him till next December 31, before making a decision.