Sports and Tourism Minister Navin Dissanayake alleged that there was a 'mafia' in Sri Lanka's sports sector during the former government's rule.

The 'mafia' was run by the three sons of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dissanayake claimed at a meeting in Maskeliya recently.

Dissanayake, who was part of the former government until his defection to the Maithripala Sirisena camp during the recent presidential election, said that the 'mafia' was broken after the election of a new government.

He alleged that the country's development was focused on one family during the Rajapaksa government. The Rajapaksa family developed during that period, he elaborated.

Frontline Socialist Party Propaganda Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said that the preference votes obtained by candidates who are elected to the parliament will transform into money in the event of a hung parliament.

Speaking at a meeting recently, he said that both the UNP and the UPFA have realized the possibility of a hung parliament. In that event, some candidates from both parties are preparing to crossover for money, he claimed.

The higher the preference vote, higher will be the price they will demand, Jayagoda added.

Meanwhile, the JVP was preparing to prop-up a future UNP government, he also said, pointing out that the JVP has already rejected any deals with the UPFA. It has expressed the willingness to support any other government from outside, Jayagoda said.

Certain JVP national list members are already campaigning for the UNP, he added, pointing out that former Auditor General Sarath Chandra Mayadunne is campaigning for Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. Another lawyer in the JVP national list is in the campaign of UNP candidate Upul Shantha Sannasgala, he said.

Security was high in Aluthgama and Dharga Town yesterday as election rallies of Bodu Jana Peramuna leader and Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara were held in the two towns.

Additional police forces had been deployed the area as a precautionary measure, but no serious instances of disturbances were reported.

The BBS was largely blamed for the violence which flared up in June 2014 in the area following a rally by the organization. However, BBS and other Buddhist organizations dispute this allegation, saying that the BBS was not responsible.

Gnanasara Thera leads the Bodu Jana Peramuna in the Kalutara District where Aluthgama and Dharga Town are located.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke about his alleged links with the LTTE and refuted the claims that he had paid money to the now defunct terrorist organization.

Taking part in a special press conference in Colombo, the former President asked if he would have destroyed the LTTE in three years, if he had a friendship with the organization in 2005.

He said that LTTE destroyed all leaders who wanted to get closer to the organization.

Rajapaksa added that there is no secret about those who gave weapons and money to the LTTE in the past.