Former Sri Lankan government denies coup attempt

The former Sri Lankan government on Monday denied allegations of a coup attempt to remain in power.

The new government had said that a special investigation will be launched on the alleged coup attempt by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and former defense secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the presidential elections.

However former eternal affairs minister Professor G.L Peiris said that he was with the former President on election night and there was no attempt to grab power through a coup.

He said that Rajapaksa had gracefully stepped down from power after losing the election and this was appreciated by even U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who had telephoned the former President.

Rajapaksa lost the election by a slim margin to his former health minister and opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

A spokesman for Sirisena, Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera had said that pressure had been exerted on the police and army to prevent Maithripala Sirisena from winning the election.

However Samaraweera said that the police and the army had refused to comply and the nation is grateful that they ensured a peaceful and free and fair election.

He said that once the new cabinet is appointed, it has been decided that a special investigation will be launched and details of the attempted coup will be revealed to the public.

The new cabinet was to take oaths on Monday. Endi