Colombo: Sri Lankan president Mahinda
Rajapaksha has scoffed media reports about his health,
prompted by unannounced visit to the United States late last
month.
As rumours about his health condition did the rounds,
Rajapaksa, quoted by official news agency Lankapuvath, dared
his political opponents to join him for a run.
"I challenge any political party leader to join me for
a walk of 8 km or to run 3 km," the president was quoted as
saying in Lankapuvath.
Quoting a conversation between the President and Dr
Jayantha Balawardene, a renowned cancer specialist in the
country, the agency said the President was regularly at the
gymnasium early morning for his exercises and did a workout
for ninety minutes a day.
"Even this morning he was at the gym flexing his
muscles" lankapuvath said yesterday.
Rajapksha made a previously unannounced visit to the
United States late last month that prompted rumours that his
visit was health related.
Rajapksha was accompanied by his external affairs
minister prof G L Peiri. The president's office said the visit
was private without elaborating details.
The Lankapuvath report said two opposition politicians
were behind the rumour campaign.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 02, 2011, 18:36