The Rajapaksas have their share of responsibility for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, President Ranil Wickremesinghe acknowledged during an exclusive interview with Indian media, Firstpost.

When inquired if the Rajapaksas should at the very least apologise for their actions, President Wickremesinghe said it was up to them and he believes they have done so, recalling that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had previously issued a similar statement.

“The crisis took place during their time. When Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as the Prime Minister and Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned as the President, the whole political system collapsed. The Opposition which should have taken over shied away from the responsibility,” he explained.

The President further said that there were a lot of irresponsible actions by everyone, adding, “I think you have to look into all of that and not merely one part of it.”

Commenting to remarks of critics claiming that he was defending the Rajapaksas, President Wickremesinghe refuted the claims, stating “I am not defending the Rajapaksas. I am saying the Rajapaksas are responsible. But there is no one else to take responsibility thereafter. The critics are the ones who ran away from responsibility.”

Questioned on his attendance at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s birthday celebrations recently, the President said he and Mahinda Rajapaksa have always exchanged birthday wishes and have also celebrated birthdays, which he claimed was common practice.

“I have always wished Mahinda Rajapaksa on his birthday and he has wished me for my birthday. This time Mr. Namal Rajapaksa asked if I could come to his house for a party, so I said yes. If any MP invites me and I have time, I go to the birthday party. Sometimes we also get a cake and cut it at the Parliamentary group meeting or Cabinet. That’s a tradition,” he said.

Stating that he was not a surrogate for the Rajapaksas as claimed by the critics, President Wickremesinghe revealed that the Rajapaksas’ party was currently divided.

“One half is working with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the other half is with me. If you ask me if the whole of Rajapaksas party is supporting me, I would say no. If you ask me if the whole of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya is supporting Sajith Premadasa, I would say no. All parties are split,” he said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he only appealed to all political parties to work together to pull the country out of the crisis, and he received the majority to be appointed as the President of Sri Lanka.