SJB Chairman MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka said his party leader, Sajith Premadasa, should not mention the name of his father, former President Ranasighe Premadasa, when speaking to the public.

"When I was the Army Commander, I did not talk about General Attygalle or General Kobbekaduwa. We waged the war in our own way. Yes, we had respect for them but we had our own way of thinking," Fonseka said.

"If the SJB wants to move forward, it must present a new vision to the public. There is no point in talking about previous leaders," the MP added.

"If the Opposition Leader was here, I would have told him the same thing," he said. "I recently told him not to mention his father's name in public," Fonseka added.

It was reported that a number of MPs in the party, including Fonseka, had criticized the conduct of Premadasa at the recent management committee meeting of the party.