evidence: "This led to a verbal tirade between the two ministers. Mr. Kiriella accused Mr. Hashim of letting down the party on four counts. He said Mr. Hashim was sworn in by the President as a minister despite instructions by the Prime Minister not to do so and was known to be having underhand dealings with the President against the party. Mr. Kiriella also said Mr. Hashim had met SLPP’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa in secret. ‘You were exposed by Minister Navin Dissanayake regarding your surreptitious meeting with Gotabaya. Then, you admitted it. I am ashamed to associate with people like you in the Government,’ he said and also accused him of conducting public rallies all over the country regardless of the party’s position. ‘It is shameful that you do these things as the chairman of the party. You better resign from the party and do what you want,’ Mr. Kiriella said. [...] In this whole macabre episode, that job was left to Minister Lakshman Kiriella. Lakshman Kiriella showed the way and he was proved effective, as Kabir bent down meekly and walked away. This is an example for other leaders in the party who should come forward to cover up the fragile points of the Party Leader. The Grand Old Party must have strong and convinced frontline men who would drive away the rats and white-anting termites out of it. We have been missing Ravi Karunanayake for a long time but Rajitha Senaratne is a safe strongman.