Former Sri Lankan president denies funding rebels

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has denied giving money to the Tamil Tiger rebels who were defeated in 2009 after 30 years of war.

The leader of the People's Liberation Front Anura Kumara Dissanayake had said that President Maithripala Sirisena had told him that if a Presidential Commission of Inquiry finds the former president guilty of having given money to the rebels before their eventual defeat militarily, he could be deprived of his civic rights.

The former president's office however said the People's Liberation Front has been trying to mislead voters ahead of parliament elections next month.

"The public should be vigilant about such falsehoods being propagated by bankrupt politicians. Firstly, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa did not give money to the LTTE (Tamil Tigers). On the contrary, it was he who defeated the LTTE. Secondly, no Presidential Commission has recommended that Mr. Rajapaksa be deprived of his civic rights. Thirdly a Presidential Commission of Inquiry cannot deprive anybody of his civic rights unless parliament passes a resolution to that effect with a two thirds majority," Rajapaksa's office said in a statement.

Rajapaksa is contesting the parliament elections scheduled to take place on Aug. 17 and is looking to be the next prime minister.

The former president lost the presidential elections held in January this year to current President Maithripala Sirisena, who is from his same political party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.