Guess, who wanted the finance portfolio

At least two UNPers, onetime ministers, have met President Maithripala Sirisena, according to sources in the Presidency.

Whether they were coming with messages or “free lancing” is not clear. At least one of them, these sources said, had sought the Finance portfolio, when talks were under way for a new government. However, President Sirisena had said that was not possible but he could be offered another portfolio.

According to these sources, the same person had later made the same request from Mahinda Rajapaksa. The answer has been a firm “no.”