Former President and MP Maithripala Sirisena strongly criticised the government over the sacking of MP Susil Premajayantha.

"As we started the new year, we got the first election result — the sacking of Susil Premajayantha. The government's problems will not be resoved by sacking ministers," Sirisena said.

"Recently, Nimal Lamza made a far more critical remak than Premajayantha. But I know they will not lay their hands on Lanza because Lanza knows all their secrets," the former President added

"The government ruined Sri Lanka's agriculture sector. Even the British rulers did not a damage of this magnitude to the agriculture sector," Sirisena said hitting out at the government.

Sirisena leads the largest coalition partner to the government — the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.