Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday denied
government allegations that he attempted a coup to remain in office
after it became clear that he had lost last week’s election.
“I deny in all possible terms reports of attempts
to use the military to influence election results,” the former leader
said on Twitter adding that he accepted the verdict before final results
were declared on Friday.
In his first direct response to the coup charge, Rajapaksa said he had “always bowed down to the people’s verdict”.
Top aides of new President Maithripala Sirisena
have alleged that Rajapaksa tried to cling to power by persuading the
island’s army and police chiefs to deploy the security forces.
Rajapaksa broke his silence on the coup allegation
just as Pope Francis began a two-day visit to the island and called for
justice, healing and unity in a country emerging from a 37-year Tamil
separatist war.
Rajapaksa, who had invited the pope last year, was
not at the welcome ceremony but issued three tweets rejecting the
allegations against him.
Just before the new government was formed on
Monday, incoming Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said Rajapaksa had
in fact tried to persuade the army and police chiefs to help him stay
in office with the use of force.
“People think it was a peaceful transition. It was anything but,” Samaraweera told a press conference at the weekend.
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