Oil and Petroleum Gas Minister Chandima Weerakkody said today that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the Chairmanship of the party after serious deliberation on the future.

Speaking at a press conference today, he contradicted Rajapaksa's claim that the Chairmanship was taken from him by force.

Meanwhile, he was confident that Rajapaksa will not leave the SLFP and argued that his statement to the media yesterday was also testament to his will to stay in the party.

Weerakkody also said that the UNP was creating dissent within the SLFP.

Speaking to media yesterday, Rajapaksa said "they are trying to chase me out from the SLFP, but they will have a hard time doing it".