Sri Lanka, Sept. 28 -- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in an apparent reference to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, claimed that a former President had requested 16 cooks after retiring from office.

Dissanayake said his Government had not provided a single cook to any former President since assuming office.

Addressing a rally in Gampaha yesterday, he said the National People's Power (NPP) Government had changed the country's political culture from one based on privileges and benefits to one focused on public service.

"Former Presidents were provided with residences, offices and large fleets of vehicles. One former President who was in office before me requested 16 cooks after retirement. I wonder whether he was planning to o...