President Maithripala Sirisena stated that there were plans to destroy his entire family if he had lost the Presidential Election on January 8.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya during his official trip to Britain, President Sirisena stated that he had stayed at a friend’s house in Kurunegala on election night.

Plans were afoot to arrest him, Sirisena said, adding that his entire family may not have been alive by now if Mahinda Rajapaksa had won the election. "That is Mahinda Rajapaksa's democracy. I know it very well," he said.

“Now they give statements on how to protect democracy in the country. However, we know how many people may have lost their lives, limbs, freedom and jobs if they [Mahinda Rajapaksa camp] had won the election” Sirisena stated.