Horror-scopes and astrology; President and Sajith trade jokes

During his address to Parliament announcing the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), President Ranil Wickremesinghe recalled that he accepted the post of President last year because no one else was willing to take on the job in such a difficult situation. He claimed some even asked time to check their horoscopes before taking on the job.

Making his own statement in response, Opposition Leader

Sajith Premadasa said that as far as he knew, President Wickremesinghe had the best horoscope of them all.

“Why? He came to Parliament as a lone MP and then went onto become the Prime Minister and then the President,” he said.

Mr Premadasa though, recalled that while Mr Wickremesinghe could have been sworn in as an MP to fill the sole national list slot won by his party when the current

Parliament convened on August 20, 2020, it took Mr Wickremesinghe ten months to come to Parliament.

“He was sworn in as an MP on June 23, 2021. That is the birthday of my father. So you can guess by that alone as to who was checking horoscopes,” the Opposition Leader said.

“He waited ten months until the best moment came about. As such, I think we can say he is the best astrologer in this country,” he added.