“Time solves a lot of things. This may be my last state function. People give power not to abuse it and make money. It’s given to serve the people. This power should never be abused. No one should be drunk with power,” he said at a function to appoint officials to the Health Ministry.

It was rumoured that the minister had earlier rejected an invitation to address the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) news Conference scheduled to be held at the party headquarters in Darley Road.