Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga blamed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for neglecting the policies of its founder, the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

She made this remark after attending the 61st death commemoration of the former Prime Minister who was assassinated by a Buddhist monk in 1959.

The SLFP only sold Bandaranaike's name and ensured their survival. The former President (Maithripala Sirisena) to this place only once during his tenure," she added,

"The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has never held a commemoration of Bandaranaike. It has been carried out by the family members," Kumaratunga added.

"But, the former President might come here today because he is being chased from other places. So, he might end up here," she said referring to the current SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena. Kumaratunga, however, was instrumental in bringing Siriena to power ending a decade-long Rajapaksa rule.