Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today hit back at the government for its claims on foreign loans obtained by him, saying that unlike this government, he had put the loans to work.

Speaking at the Joint Opposition rally at Hyde Park, the former President also responded to allegations that he had obtained foreign loans secretly. If he had taken secret loans and there are no records kept, then the government should not worry about paying back such loans, Rajapaksa said. “Don’t pay it back. Then the problem is solved.”

Rajapaksa insisted that he will remain in politics even if his entire family is imprisoned.

If he had also sought revenge, the country would not have been developed during his time, Rajapaksa said. "If I had opened the closets and searched them, certain skeletons would have been fallen out," he said.

Rajapaksa called on the government to deliver its promises without resorting to revenge. "If you cannot handle the country, give it to me. I'll run it" he said.