He told Sri Lanka Mirror on condition on anonymity that Chandrika Kumaratunga made similar remarks after Mahinda Rajapaksa gave nominations at the 2005 presidential election.

The president’s hatred was demonstrated to the entire country to see, and also that how weak and helpless a leader he is and his alliance with Ranil Wickremesinghe are all evident, he said.

President Sirisena’s statement yesterday has left his loyalists who have given nominations from the UPFA in crisis, reports say.

That is because Rajapaksa supporters have decided to ask the country not to back the Sirisena loyalists.