Cabinet Co-Spokesperson Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the demands the protesting petroleum workers were making were political, and not within their ambit.

“Their demands are political,” the Minister said. “Whether or not we are leasing the Hambantota Port is decided by the Cabinet. Leasing the Indian Oil Tanks is a matter for the Cabinet. Then it will then be debated in Parliament. That is why there is a Cabinet of Ministers and a Parliament – to do these things,” he said.  

Accusing rabble-rousers of conniving with former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa the Co-Cabinet Spokesperson further said: “The former President has clearly said to stop the Hambantota agreement. He has clearly said “we must stop the agreement with India”, he has clearly told his people “we must stand against SAITM.”

“What happens when he does this? Investments stop coming to Sri Lanka. When investments stop coming to Sri Lanka, it is not beneficial to the country,” the Minister explained.

He also said the Rajapaksa’s were causing trouble because they were afraid of impending arrest. “The Investigations against the Rajapaksa’s are nearing completion. They will be arrested very soon. That is why they are agitating like this. We are getting messages from the Rajapaksa’s via various monks asking us not to arrest the Rajapaksa’s – but we have to do what is good for the country,” he further said.