• “We could never imagine the fate the country would have to face, if Basil Rajapaksa becomes President”
• He said what was needed was to change the system 

By Ajith Siriwardana   

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said if President Gotabaya Rajapaksa steps down as the President, Basil Rajapaksa could become the President as he commands the majority support in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). 

If Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns as the President, the person who commands majority support in Parliament is elected as the President. That person could be Basil Rajapaksa

He told reporters in Kandy after visiting the Mahanayake Theras on Sunday that “We could never imagine the fate the country would have to face, if Basil Rajapaksa becomes the President.”

“If Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns as the President, the person who commands majority support in Parliament is elected as the President. That person could be Basil Rajapaksa as he commands majority support in the SLPP. Can you imagine what could happen to the country if he becomes the President,” he asked.  

He said what was needed was to change the system and pointed out that the executive presidency should be abolished and added that it should be done in a proper manner so that national security was ensured.  
The Minister said he was still of the opinion that President Rajapaksa was a politically inexperienced and failed leader.  

“If he is a successful leader, he would never have invited us and offered ministry portfolios,” he said.  
The Minister said the youths started a struggle against the current political system just this April and added that he had started the campaign against this corrupt system in 2007 as the the then COPE Chairman.