However, he was strongly criticized by the UPFA media spokesman - Dilan Perera a few moments later.

"That SLFP MP has aired his personal views as the stance of the party. The SLFP's stance on the National anthem is no different to that declared in the constitution. They should have the right to sing the national anthem in their language. It is because of extremists such as this MP who portray themselves as SLFPers, that Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated. This MP fits not in the SLFP, but to an organisation as the Bodu Bala Sena," Dilan Perera has said.