"The BBS has said that if we support Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential election there could be a situation similar to (the riots) 1915. This has caused us concern and the safety of the Muslims is now of paramount importance", SLMC assistant general secretary Nizam Kariapper told the BBC's Sinhala service Sandeshaya in an interview.

He said the SLMC is yet to decide on who they will support at the January 8 election following the threat made by the BBS which has now been conveyed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

"The President has told us that the BBS has not given him a clear indication who they will support and he is not expecting their support either. He is not in favour of the policies of the BBS", Kariapper further said.

When asked by SriLankaMirror about the interview given to the BBC by the SLMC, BBS CEO Dilantha Vithanage said it was a blatant lie.

"At no stage did we ever make such a threat that Muslims will face a situation similar to 1915", he said.

Vithanage said he will challenge his former school mate Kariapper to prove that the BBS had made such a statement.

He alleged the SLMC was attempting to create racialism ahead of the election.