President Maithripala Sirisena has sent an urgent letter to former President and UPFA Kurunegala District candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa today (Aug 13), the Presidential Media Unit said.  

The President states that if the United People’s Freedom Alliance (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.     

In the strongly-worded letter, 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.