Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that although he will not be the Head of State of a government formed by him, he will be the one who will run the government.

He was effectively saying that he will be the puppet master and the Head of State will be a puppet.

Anyone, including President Maithripala Sirisena can be in the government but only under his terms, Rajapaksa added.

He made this observation in a press meeting with foreign correspondents in Sri Lanka, when he was asked as to how he would lead a government with a constitutional provision in place preventing him from becoming president for a third term.

Rajapaksa said that there are ways by which one could be the leader of the government without being head of state.

Rajapaksa added that his intention was to bring down the present government in 2017.

Pic: BBC Sandeshaya