Colombo, June 21 - Founder of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Basil Rajapaksa is reported to have told his party’s breakaway group at a meeting even attended by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that the Rajapaksas were not ready to cow down to any pressure.

He delivered tough remarks when Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga, a breakaway member of the party backing the President, informed the meeting that there is a request from other parties and groups for the accommodation of the SLPP for a broad alliance sans the members of the Rajapaksa family.

Expressed his displeasure over the presence of the SLPP breakaway group representatives and the SLFP Incensed by such a remark, Mr. Rajapaksa lashed out saying “if you don’t want us once, we don’t want you a hundred times.”

He also said he attended the meeting as requested by the President out of courtesy for him and otherwise the Rajapaksas could not be beaten into submission in this manner.

Mr. Rajapaksa expressed his displeasure over the presence of the SLPP breakaway group representatives and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He said that it is open for the President to decide whether to deal with the SLPP or its breakaway factions.