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Sri Lankan police have arrested an astrologer who predicted the country’s president would be ousted from office by the end of this year.

Chandrasiri Bandara , one of the most popular astrologers in the country had predicted the ejection of the President Mahinda Rajapakse.in an opposition rally. According to him, Rajapakse will be replaced by his prime minister on September 9 this year, with the current opposition leader taking over as the new prime minister of the country. This is not the type of astrologer who writes monthly horoscopes, in Sri Lanka astrologers are highly respected.

Bandara was arrested on Wednesday evening from his residence in Colombo. Police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekara said:

he CID (Criminal Investigations Department) is questioning the astrologer. We want to find out the basis for the prediction.

Astrological predictions have a special importance in Sri Lankan society. Many Sri Lankans plan their weddings and special events based on the advice of astrologers. This is an old tradition and means that Sri Lankan astrologers are respected within the communities

Opposition parties have condemned the arrest of the astrologer and accused the government of heading towards a dictatorship. Opposition United National Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said in a statement.

The crime which Chandrasiri Bandara committed was publishing an astrological column which was adverse to the government.