Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said the reply to the speech made by President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday would be given on July 17 in Anuradhapura.

Mr. Rajapaksa made these remarks when he arrived at the SLFP head office to take part at the UPFA party leaders meeting a short while ago.

President Sirisena yesterday made a special speech in which he said he was against giving nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest at the general elections.

He said he would not appoint Mr. Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister and that Rajapaksa would be defeated again. (Lahiru Pothmulla)