Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today responded to the letter from President Maithripala Sirisena, with a letter of his own. 

Rajapaksa stated that he received the latter issued by Sirisena on Thursday, however completely rejected the “baseless” criticism contained in the letter which he claims were made from information received from a third party. 

The UPFA Kurunegala District candidate expressed contentment with regard to the President’s comments that the party would obtain a majority in parliament at the General Election on August 17. 

In his letter, Rajapaksa also says that he expects President Maithripala Sirisena would respect the people’s mandate at the parliamentary election just as he respected the mandate of the people on January 09, 2015. 

In a strongly-worded letter, President Sirisena had yesterday stated that if the UPFA obtains 113 seats, the minimum number required for forming a government, at the forthcoming General Election, then the Prime Minister should be a senior member of the party who has not received the opportunity so far.     

He also states that if in some way the UPFA is unable to obtain 113 seats, he could intervene as the Executive President in order to obtain the remaining seats required to form a government. 

However, the Prime Minister should be a senior member of the party and not Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President says, adding, that there are more than enough veteran and mature politicians in the party for that role. 

Sirisena named seven other party seniors, including Rajapakse’s elder brother Chamal Rajapakse, as potential prime ministerial candidates should their party win. 

In his letter, Sirisena also accused Rajapakse of fuelling communal hatred. 

“I urge you not to make statements that fan the flames of ethnic hatred,” Sirisena said in his letter, copies of which were released to the press.