Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted an Iftar ceremony for Islam devotees yesterday. 

The event was, held at the former President's official residence at the Wijerama Mawatha, was attended by several leading politicians and diplomats representing Middle Eastern nations. 

This comes a few days after former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa attended an Iftar ceremony in Beruwala. 

The Rajapaksas came under criticism from various circles for not taking action on those who incited anti-Muslim violence in Sri Lanka, in 2014. 

At the presidential election in 2015, the large majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka, voted against the former President over his inaction on ultra-nationalist Buddhist extremist groups.