Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the UNP's move to form a national government at this late stage is nothing more than a joke. 

Expressing his views on forming a new national government between the UNP and a section of SLFPers, Rajapaksa said the national government that lasted for nearly four years had given nothing to the people. 

"The government has now come its last stage. There is no point in forming a national government at this point in time, " he added. 

Rajapaksa said the move indicated that the current UNP-led government could not do anything on its own. 

It is learnt that the President has given the green light to a section of SLFPers, who are already working with the UNP, to officially join a national government.