Prof. G.L. Peiris
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied in all possible terms the charge that he attempted to use the military to influence election results.He said that he had accepted the outcome long before the final official results were released and had congratulated the new President. He further emphasised that during his decades of being in politics he had always bowed down to the people’s verdict and regarded wins and losses as a natural part of political life.
Ex-President rajapaksa issued this strong denial in the form of three tweets through his twitter account.
The three tweets are reproduced below –
1/3 I deny in all possible terms reports of attempts to use the military to influenc election results – MR
2/3 I accepted the outcome long before the final official results were released and congratulated the new President-MR
3.3 during decades in politics,I have always bowed down to the people’s verdict.Wins and losses are a natural part of political life-MR
Prof.GL Peiris
In a separate development the Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) has also officially denied that there had been an attempted coup on election night by ousted President Mahinda Rajapaksa .
Addressing a media briefing at the SLFP’s Darley Road Headquarters on Monday former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris disclosed that he had been present at Temple Trees on election night and asserted there was no such attempt.
“There was no attempt to cling to power through any coup,” Prof.Peiris declared
Prof.Peiris pointed out that even the US Government had acknowledged that there had been a peaceful transition of power after President Rajapaksa’s defeat at the election.
Earlier UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera told journalists at a press briefing on Sunday that President Maithripala Sirisena’s Government would launch an investigation into the alleged coup d’etat that was planned at Temple Trees while the results were being released.
Mangala Samaraweera, who has succeeded Peiris as External Affairs Minister said a bloodless transition had been achieved on 9 January, because the police and military chiefs had refused to comply with orders from top officials in the regime.