Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that the government might arrest his son Namal Rajapaksa, his brothers Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, and other politicians supporting him.

"They might arrest Namal, Gotabaya, Basil, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahindananda [Aluthgamage], Rohitha Abeygunawardena, [Kumara] Welgama and ultimately they might arrest me too," Rajapaksa said speaking to media after visiting the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

Despite all this, the government is unable to prevent the people from rising against it, he added.

Rajapaksa maintained that these arrests are only a ploy to divert people's attention from the economic grievances. Despite all this, the people still support him, he said.

Speculation is rising of the possible arrest of Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the murder of former Havelock's captain Wasim Thajudeen.