The abolition of executive presidency today has become a ploy used by hawkers who are trying to satisfy the needs of the LTTE Diaspora, National Freedom Front Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.

“There are various teams that are concerned with the presidential election. Even some foreign embassies have taken a special interest in the upcoming election to be held in the country. Some of them helped to field Sarath Fonseka as a common candidate for the 2010 presidential election and want to create chaos here. There other players in this fiasco such as the LTTE Diaspora and even some Tamil organisations,” the minister told a news conference today.

He said that the United National Party (UNP) was craving for power after being in the opposition for 20 years and wishes to gain power by any means; even it had adverse consequences for the country. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was also very keen about the presidential election and the executive presidency, he said. “The present leader of the JVP wants a country without Mahinda Rajapaksa- the commander of the forces and a country free of defense secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, which would please the foreign diplomatic missions,” he said.