These investigations show president Sirisena was not making a honest attempt to unite with Rajapaksa, although S.B. Dissanayake, Dilan Perera and others were talking about uniting the two, Weliwita has said.

In order to establish his honesty, the president should at least halt these investigations, Rajapaksa’s spokesman has said.

No one in the SLFP has held talks with the ex-president, but even if talks are held, he will not be deceived in the manner he was fooled during the last general election, Weliwita has said.

New party, a certainty

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa has told a meeting at Carlton home in Tangalle on January 23 that he would lead a new party if he was not given leadership of the UPFA for the local government polls.

Around 69 former LG members in Moneragala attended the meeting.

Here, Rajapaksa has stressed the need for a direct opposition, expressing optimism of support by LG members in the same manner they had supported him at the 2005 presidential polls, when SLFP organizers were avoiding him.

Before this meeting, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was at Carlton, and he also had a meeting with former chief minister Shashindra Rajapaksa too.