President Maithripala Sirisena requested former president Mahinda Rajapaksa not to contest the forthcoming general election and support the United People's Freedom Alliance election campaign, informed political sources told Asian Mirror.

 

This request has been made during the one-to-one meeting between Sirisena and Rajapaksa last night at the Speaker's Official Residence.

 

In response, Rajapaksa had maintained that it was now too late for such a request. There was a significant demand for his return and he cannot ignore such an intense demand, Rajapaksa has reportedly told Sirisena.

 

The meeting had been conducted in a cordial atmosphere. However, nothing has been decided on further meetings between Rajapaksa and Sirisena.

 

Rajapaksa attended a reception at the Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga's residence last night. He left Ranatunga's residence to meet President Sirisena and returned after an hour, sources also said.