The former Sri Lankan defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday launched a new organisation aimed at defeating the government's plans for a new constitution.
Claiming the new constitution was aimed at appeasing the "LTTE diaspora" and would lead to secession, Mr Rajapaksa vowed to defeat the project.
"Separate state can't be given on platter vicariously thru new constitution after 30 years of sacrifice #SriLanka #Eliya #NoToSeparateState" he tweeted.
According to website Lankaweb, a number of notable figures of Sri Lankan polity were present at the launch of the organisation, called 'Eliya', including the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, former Cabinet ministers, including Basil Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa, Dullas Alahapperuma, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Bandula Gunawardena, leader of Joint Opposition Dinesh Gunawardene, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Gamini Lokuge, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Chief Justice Sarath N Silva, former Governor of Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Manohara De Silva PC, Tamara Kunanayagam, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke and Maj Gen (retd) Kamal Gunaratne.