He has stressed this point to SLFP politicians, who have been close to him and whom he has met individually in the last few days, reliable sources told ‘Sri Lanka Mirror.’

The president has explained to them that he could not allow the country and the SLFP to fall a situation like the one in 1977, where the UNP gained such a big majority, said the sources.

He has also told them that he was worried by the acts of fraud and corruption being committed by certain ministers and officials of the present government.

President Sirisena had a lengthy discussion with minister Rajitha Senaratne last night as well.

Don't attack Maithri

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa advised participants of a meeting at the official residence of western province chief minister Prasanna Ranatunga two days ago not to make any statement that would cause inconvenience to president Sirisena.

Nearly 70 ex-MPs attended the meeting, where Rajapaksa stressed that neither president Sirisena nor himself want to see the SLFP divided and the UNP formed a government.

The enemy of the SLFP is not president Sirisena, but the UNP and Ranil Wickremesinghe, he asked them to keep in mind.