The United National Party slammed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today, challenging him to prove the allegation that the present government has removed 59 military camps in the north and east.

Rajapaksa made this claim in his message to the “Arise with Mahinda” rally at Matara on Friday. UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim, in a statement, refuted this allegation today and said that the former president was propagating lies and myths in his attempts to create differences among communities.

Hashim said that the 59 camps were removed during the former regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Similarly, Rajapaksa had recommended the removal of the Sampur camp, he pointed out. The former government also handed back 5000 of 11,000 acres of land held by the military back to the original owners, Hashim’s statement said. It added that the present government had released only 1000 acres of land.