By Lahiru Pothmulla and Sanath Desmond

Democratic Party (DP) Leader Sarath Fonseka yesterday rejected claims that he would leave the country in 2017 and vowed he would even spend his last moments in Sri Lanka.

“As I said when I first entered politics, I will do politics for at least 10 more years. Unless someone kidnapped me and forcibly took me to another country, I won’t leave Sri Lanka,” he told a news conference in Colombo.
Mr. Fonseka said he would continue to serve the people of this country.
Meanwhile, commenting on the proposal made by the ‘National Council for a Better Tomorrow’ (Pivithuru Hetak Udesa Jathika Sabhawa) to introduce a 19th Amendment to the Constitution, Mr. Fonseka said his party was in full agreement with it.
The National Council for a Better Tomorrow headed by Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera on Tuesday presented a set of proposals for a 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
“We sent one of our representatives for the meeting and we agree with Ven. Rathana Thera’s proposals. We support the need to curtail the powers of the executive presidency without abolishing it. The Thera has vowed to leave the Government if it refuses to accept the amendments. This means that Ven. Rathana Thera too, accepts opposition’s position,” Mr. Fonseka said.  
He said the DP was ready to join hands with Ven. Rathana Thera to introduce the proposals through a meaningful mechanism.