Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said protecting Sri Lanka's sovereignty would be a key challenge at this juncture.

"On Independence Day, the present “Yahapalanaya” Government should remember that even the British colonial power didn’t do anything to undermine Sri Lanka's unitary character," Rajapaksa said, posting a message on his social media profiles to mark Sri Lanka's 70th Independence Day.

"One of the challenges Sri Lanka will now face will be to safeguard the unitary state from yahapalana coalitions," he added, in his statement.

Rajapaksa did not attend the Independence Day celebrations today. His supporters said Rajapaksa did not receive invitation to attend the state ceremony as he is now an opposition politician.