Rajapakse visits former UNP strongman's residence

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 August 2010, 04:31 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne made a surpise visit Tuesday to Parliamentarian Abdul Cader’s residence in Gampola where close door discussions were held, the Lankadeepa newspaper said. Cader, a former UNP strongman, has been seen leaning towards supporting the ruling government in recent months. He has also been suspended by the UNP’s working committee after he supported the ruling UPFA at several instances in parliament.

Rajapaksa and Jayaratne made the visit to Cader’s Gampola residence when they were in kandy to take part in religious observances and witness the annual perahera in kandy, according to Lankadeepa.

Soon after the closed door meeting, Cader accompanied Rajapakse and the Prime Minister to a nearby mosque close to Cader’s Gampola residence where they met with a large group of Muslims who were preparing to break fast.

Rajapakse's son, Namal Rajapaksa, who is a member of Parliament, Central province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, IGP Mahinda Balasuriya, also took part in the discussions.

This was the first visit made to Cader’s residence since Cader started supporting the government.