Former Presidents to think twice in attending state ceremonies over disrespect

Colombo, June 7 (Daily Mirror) - The former Presidents remain disappointed over seating arrangements made for them at a recent function at the BMICH, and have decided to think twice in accepting invitations extended by the government for state events in the future as a result, Daily Mirror learns.

The former President – Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chandrika Bandaranaike, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe – were invited for a recent event at the BMICH, but they found the seating arrangements made for them as former Heads of State inappropriate.

It has been customary right throughout to provide prominent seating facilities for former Heads of State at events organized by the state and graced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. All the former Presidents can be seen seated together in the front row at most such events. They are accorded the same privilege at diplomatic functions

A former President who wished to remain anonymous told Daily Mirror that all the former Heads of State invited for a recent event at the BMICH were not happy with seating facilities made available for them. He said it was disrespectful of them.

“In the future, if there is an invitation by the government for an event, we will discuss it among ourselves and decide whether to attend or not. We did not even attend the War Heroes’ Commemoration organized by the government as a result,” he said.

The former Presidents also remain concerned over the curtailment of benefits by the current government. They lost benefits in terms of reduction of security details, vehicles and allowances.