Commenting on crossovers of MPs from the ruling party to the opposition and vice versa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a group of ruling party MPs in Kandy yesterday morning that he will close the famous “saloon-door” by next week.

What he implied was that no more opposition MPs who want to cross over to the government would not be welcomed after next week. At the same time, he also indicated that no SLFP defector would join the common opposition after next week.

The President also asserted that he was not worried about various claims on crossovers. He said he was not even bothered about them.

“Those who want to be at the right place at the right time will wither stay with the government or join the government. That’s all I can say about crossover rumours,” a smiling  President told his MPs and close associates in Kandy yesterday.

“But,” he added, “I will close the Saloon door next week.”

President Rajapaksa, last year, stated that the government was similar to a saloon-door through which any person could walk in and walk out.

A large number of ministers and ruling party MPs were present in Kandy yesterday, to attend the swearing in ceremony of former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake who took oaths as the Minister of Health at the President’s House in Kandy. The President also attended the Sri Dalada Maligawa yesterday and engaged in Buddhist religious rituals before he left for Anuradhapura to address the first election rally of the UPFA.