President Maithripala Sirisena said he wished Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne could become the leader of the country one day. 

The President made this remark while addressing a felicitation ceremony organized to honour Senaratne at the Nelum Pokuna theatre, today. 

"Two speakers who addressed this gathering before me - Prof. Carlo Fonseka and Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya - indirectly said Rajitha Senaratne would be the leader of the country one day. I'd like to endorse them," the President said. 

"They said two health ministers in the past - the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and myself - broke away from their parties and went on to lead the country. But I don't know if Minister Senaratne would want to follow the same path on breaking away from the party." 

Many politicians, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, were present at the event.