Days after his shocking electoral defeat, embattled former president Mahinda Rajapaksa today handed over Sri Lanka Freedom Party's reins to the country's new leader Maithripala Sirisena, saying he does not want to see his party divided.   

"I dislike to see my party divided," 69-year-old Rajapaksa who ruled the Island nation for a decade said in a statement while handing over the party chairmanship to the new Lankan President Sirisena.   

Scores of senior party leaders had joined 63-year-old Sirisena before and after he became the president on January9.   

"With effect from today I will be handing over the leadership to President Maithripala Sirisena", Rajapaksa said in a statement.