UNP Parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra said President Maithripala Sirisena's habit of passing the bucks had not changed even after the appointment of his chosen Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa 

"When Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Prime Minister was the Prime Minister, President Sirisena often said he got to know things from the newspapers. The remark he made today, during a meeting with Bodu Bala Sena monks, show that his habits still remain the same," Premachandra said addressing a press conference at Temple Trees. 

Sirisena, speaking at a meeting with Bodu Bala Sena monks this evening, said he was unaware of their protest near the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon and condemned the Police action to disperse the protesting monks using water cannons and tear gas. 

"The President," Premachandra said, "has forgotten that he is the Law and Order Minister of the country."

The Parliamentarian said the President had resorted to the same conduct without the realization that he had ousted Wickremesinghe. 

Sirisena also informed the Bodu Bala Sena monks that he had ordered a special investigation into the tear gas and water cannon attack on the protesting monks.