Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said today a political coup was about to happen but it died within the United National Party (UNP) itself.

Mr. Rajapaksa told journalists this after visiting the Sri Muththu Mariamman Kovil at Hawaeliya in Nuwara Eliya to attend a special sermon along with his wife Shiranthi.

“A political coup was about to happen but it emerged and died within the UNP. It could have been because it was revealed too soon or for some other reason. It’s not ours. We didn’t try anything. It seems it was a result of an internal rift in the UNP,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rajapaksa said the discussions between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were pending and added that they could win any election by obtaining more than 50% of the votes. “People are wise. They will make a correct decision. There is no electricity or water today. The government has failed to even provide a proper salary to labourers,” he said.

Mr. Rajapaksa was welcomed by the Kovil’s Chairman Non-Cabinet Minister V. Radhakrishnan.(Ranjith Rajapaksa)