President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa met last night for a crucial discussion on the proposed alliance between the SLPP and the SLFP, political sources said.

They added that the discussion did not produce any result.

It is learnt that President Sirisena has strongly opposed Rajapaksa's request to support Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who will be contesting the Presidential election under the symbol of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP).

Sources said President Sirisena refused any association with the 'flower bud' symbol of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

The discussion took amidst an exchange of strongly-worded letters between Rajapaksa and Sirisena over an advanced payment made to a "shell company" before the construction of the newly-opened Lotus Tower in Colombo.

Sirisena accused Rajapaksa's government of blatant corruption while Rajapaksa slammed Sirisena for resorting to devious methods to take the due credit away from the SLPP and the Joint Opposition for the landmark project.