Ravi Karunanayake would still be a minister had he been given a portfolio other than finance, said president Maithripala Sirisena on 16 January cabinet meeting.

He said he told PM Ranil Wickremesinghe not to give finance to Ravi. “What Ravi did with that ministry was getting into trouble only. He helped me a lot. It was him who gave me a party and a symbol. I said he should not be given finance, as I know that although he was not a thief, he would get into trouble by helping his friends. Had the PM listened to me, Ravi would still be a minister. He is a must in the cabinet,” said the president.

The president recorded what he told the cabinet, saying, “You go out and speaking to the media, distorting what I said. Therefore, I will record to show what I said.”