Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa responded to President Maithripala Sirisena's statement last evening by asking the people to wait until August 17.

"Let's see about it on August 17", Rajapaksa told media, when he arrived at the SLFP headquarters for a meeting of the UPFA executive committee.

Sirisena criticized Rajapaksa in a special statement last evening and said that Rajapaksa will lose the general election. He was strongly opposed to giving nominations to Rajapaksa, Sirisena also said.

The UPFA will hold its first election rally on July 17 in Anuradhapura.