President jests at MP over ‘property takeover’ remark

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during his budget speech yesterday, took a brief detour from fiscal matters to make a light-hearted remark aimed at an opposition MP.  

In a humorous tone, the President recalled pre-election claims that the National People’s Power (NPP) would seize private property if elected to office.  

“Numerous allegations were levelled against us before we came to power. Some said we would take over private property once in government. 

The person who made that comment is sitting right in front of me in this chamber today,” he said, drawing laughter from the House.