Former President and Kurunegala District SLFP MP Mahinda Rajapaksa said his sole focus in 2017 will be that of toppling the current regime and return to power for a third time.
The former President made this comment following a media briefing of foreign correspondents at his official residence yesterday.
He stated that his ouster from power in 2015 was mainly caused by some lapses in communication between him and the electorates during the second stage of his administration.
Rajapaksa added however that part of the reason for that electoral loss was that there was a subtle change in society wanting a change.
He said that it was against such a background that Maithripala Sirisena had triumphed in the 2015 Presidential Poll, but asserted that the current regime had become extremely unpopular with the people after just 36 months in office.
The former President added that the people were suffering enormously under this government while its members enjoy a surfeit of luxury.
He said he was not averse to the country attracting foreign investments but was opposed to the methods used in attracting such investments.
He also pointed out that under his watch only 750 acres of land had been pledged to the Chinese while this government had consented to provide 15000 acres of land to China, which otherwise could be cultivated by the people of Hambantota.
