UNP MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said he had not received an official invitation to attend the National Independence Day ceremony at Galle Face Green on February 04. 

All ruling party MPs are customarily invited to attend the Independence Day national ceremony taking place under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. 

Fonseka told the media that he would not attend the Independence Day ceremony if he was not given the due respect as the highest-ranking military officer in the country.

Government sources, however, added that the invitations for the Independence Day ceremony are Ministry of Internal Affairs coming under the purview of Vajira Abeywardena. 

Government sources raised questions whether the Ministry had deliberately decided to refrain from inviting Fonseka as the latter's presence might cause inconvenience to President Sirisena. 

Sirisena was at loggerheads with Fonseka in the recent past over the latter's critical remarks of the President's actions. 

President Sirisena also refused to appoint Fonseka as a Cabinet minister.