National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa today launched a veiled attack on former Minister Basil Rajapaksa over the latter's statement on waiting for the people's mandate to take over the government. 

"We also like to wait for the people's mandate. But, there will not be a country when we get the mandate," Weerawansa said today, addressing a meeting of the Joint Opposition. 

"The country will become lifeless if the current government continues for another one year. There is no point in coming to power in a lifeless country. Those who want to rule the roost in a lifeless country now talk about waiting for a mandate," Weerawansa said.

His remark was a response to a statement made by Basil Rajapaksa saying the People's mandate is needed to establish a government, although there were several ways of toppling one. 

"Had Mahinda Rajapaksa won the last Parliamentary election, he would have been the Prime Minister under Maithripala Sirisena. Can he say shy away from the prime ministerial post as he doesn't like to work with Sirisena? Whether we like or not, Sirisena will be the President of the country until the end of his term," Weerawansa said. 

He said those who talked about turning down the opportunity to form a coalition or caretaker government were 'immature". 

However, in addition to Rajapaksa, UPFA Parliamentarian Ranjith de Zoysa also said yesterday that they did not want to form any coalition government with President Sirisena as they could no longer trust him.