Former finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s aides confirmed that he has decided to quit active politics and will not be contesting the up coming general election next year.
But he has said he will play a quiet role in the reconciliation front upholding the policies that he had always stood by. It was reported that the former minister was criticised by several Members of Parliament for the election defeat of the New Democratic Front candidate Sajith Premadasa.
Samaraweera vacated his official residence at Stanmore Cresent, Colombo 7 on Friday. He was one of the first members of the Cabinet to resign from the ministerial posts after the Presidential election loss, to to make way for a new Cabinet to be sworn in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.