Taking the internal division within the SLPP government to a new height, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam today asked Minister Wimal Weerawansa to tender an apology to the public on the SLPP leadership.

In an interview with a weekend newspaper, Weerawansa said President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be made the leader of the SLPP as he is currently isolated in the Presidential Secretariat with a coterie of bureaucrats.

"How can he make such statements about the SLPP leadership? This is not this party nor does he have any standing the SLPP. He should mind the affairs of his own party. He doesn't have any right to say that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa should be removed and President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should be appointed in his place," Kariyawasam added.

In the same interview, Weerawansa also hit out at Kariyawasam saying he was not bothered by the disappointment of the SLPP General Secretary who was dished out a parliamentary seat for being a "servant".

‘We have no problem with him being sad. I have a problem if the people of the country feel sorry for the actions we take. That's the only problem we have. Those who came from the national list and won seats do not understand the paramount importance of defending the mandate given by the people. The post of National List Member of Parliament is a gift that is given to someone for being a servant," Weerawansa added.