SLFP Stalwart State Minister Dilan Perera has said civic rights of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will not be abolished as long as Maithripala Sirisena remains the President of the country. 

"We don't oppose taking legal action against the former President. But, we don't agree revoking his civic rights," Perera said, addressing a press conference at the SLFP headquarters today. 

The Presidential Commission appointed to probe into large scale corruption under the previous administration has recommended the abolition of civic rights of the former President over misappropriation of Rs. 225 million. 

"Abolition of civic rights is the UNP's tradition. We, at the SLFP, cannot agree with that," Perera said. 

"We know how our party suffered when the civic rights of Sirimavo Bandaranaike were abolished under the J.R. Jayewardene government." 

"As a party that has gone through many hardships due to abolition of civic rights, we can't do the same thing to former President Rajapaksa," he said, adding that President Maithripala Sirisena was also of the same opinion.