Former President Maithripala Sirisena, a party leader of the ruling coalition said the people had no other alternative but to resort to street protests.

"With the increase in fuel prices the masses will reject politicians and resort to mass protests," Sirisena said addressing an SLFP meeting in Badulla.

"When this government was formed by 13 parties I was also appointed the Chairman but after that I was not involved in anything," he added.

"After the Sirimavo Bandaranaike era, only my government brought a proper policy framework to this country. I took the country on democratic path. All the countries in the world helped me. I brought the 19th Amendment and established democracy in the country. But I wanted to build a country free of corruption but I could not do it."

"The Colombo urban class is also starving without electricity and gas. People are helpless without food, oil, gas and electricity," he said.