Minister Mangala Samaraweera has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today in connection with an alleged coup attempt by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whilst the election results were been released on 9 January.

Minister Samaraweera in his complaint said “It has been brought to our notice that in the wee hours of 9 January there has been a serious attempt by former President MAhinda Rajapaksa, and brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, G.L. Peiris and Udaya Gammanpila have been discussing and conspiring to subvert the due process of law when the results of the Persidentail election were becoming known, which were not favorable to one of the candidates, namely Mahinda Rajapaksa. The discussions were based around an attempt to impose a state emergency under the Public Security Ordinance… 

It is also known that Attorney General Yuvanjan Wijayatilake had been summoned to Temple Trees at about 3. 00 am by Mahinda Rajapaksa when the above mentioned persons were present. However, TG has refused to contrive with the coup attempt to impose a state of emergency and continue in office by unlawful and illegal means with the help of the military…

We also understand that Mahinda Rajapaksa has solicited the support of the IGP and the Army Commander. We aware that both these officers have declined to participate in the coup attempt.”

However, Rajapaksa has denied allegations that he tried to cling on to power, saying he decided to let then-opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena assume the country’s top post after looking at the trend of election results in the early hours of Friday.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya also said he is unaware of Rajapaksa’s order to the military to back him, maintaining that the military stayed out of all the stages of the electoral process.