President Mahinda Rajapaksa  just announced that UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake joined the government.

He made this revelation while speaking to media after handing over his nomination papers at the Elections Secretariat. The President made this statement standing on a flat bed truck outside the Elections Secretariat.

 “We have strengthened stability of the country. The country has embarked on a phase of development. No one will be allowed to disrupt this stability,” President Rajapaksa said. 

While President Rajapaksa made this statement, the former UNP General Secretary, who resigned from his position this morning, was at Temple Trees, expecting a meeting with the President.

President Rajapaksa, speaking to media after handing over the nomination papers, said in no uncertain terms that he would win the presidential election which will take place in January, 2015. 

Meanwhile, government sources told Asian Mirror that Attanayake will be given the position of Health Minister - the post vacated by former SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena who left the position to become the common candidate of the opposition. 

Meanwhile, former Deputy Leader of Sarath Fonseka's party, DNA Parliamentarian Jayantha ketagoda also joined the government at Temple Trees, along with Attanayake. The two MPs were welcomed warmly by a host of ruling party Parliamentarians who were gathered at the President's residence.