Pemecatan yang mengejutkan itu dilakukan sehari setelah Bandaranaike, saudara mantan Presiden Chandrika Kumartunga, terang-terangan menyatakan bahwa unsur-unsur pemerintah sedang berusaha menakut-nakutinya dengan ancaman pembunuhan.
The surprise sacking came a day after Bandaranaike, the brother of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, publicly declared that elements of the government were trying to intimidate him with death threats.