President Maithripala Sirisena's critical remarks on a suspicious transaction of Rs. 2 billion that went to a "shell company" in Chna as an "advanced payment" before the construction of Lotus Tower in Colombo, has pushed the talks between the SLPP and the SLFP to the verge of collapse.

Informed political sources said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was livid after hearing Sirisena's remarks at the opening of South Asia's tallest tower, last evening.

Rajapaksa was not present at the opening ceremony of Lotus Tower — a project initiated by his government in 2012. When contacted by us, a senior official attached to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) confirmed that Rajapaksa was invited for the event through official channels. However, UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma said the Opposition Leader had not received his invitation as of 10 AM yesterday (16).

"I don't know how we can continue discussions with a man of this calibre. If he thinks he can strong-arm the SLPP with such outrageous allegations, he is gravely mistaken," a close associate of Rajapaksa told Asian Mirror last night, confirming that their party is seriously reconsidering its position on negotiations.

"President Sirisena has got his tongue twisted again. The Alleged Company ALIT(aerospace Long-March International Treading Co- is a Chinese Govt Owned Subsidiary Company of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. So is the Contract Company CEIEC. All State-owned," Kanchana Wijesekera, a junior MP of the UPFA, tweeted last night, responding to the President.

Former TRC Director General Anusha Palpita also denied President Sirisena's critical remarks saying the Cabinet approval was duly obtained for every transaction concerning agreement of the Lotus Tower project. President Sirisena too was a member of the same Cabinet at the time.

Former Secretary to the Ministry of Media Dr. Charitha Herath, another associate of Opposition Leader Rajapaksa, said the President's statement was ill-informed and baseless.