Sirisena Indecisive Over Rajapaksa’s Nomination: Pro-MR Rally In Anuradhapura Postponed
July 6, 2015
Three days after UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha’s announcement on Mahinda Rajapaksa‘s nominations, serious doubts still loom large over his candidacy at the Parliamentary election.
Multiple sources from the SLFP told Colombo Telegraph that President Maithripala Sirisena had promised his close associates to review the decision pertaining to Rajapaksa’s nominations. Therefore the former President’s nominations, which was a contentious matter over the past three days, still hangs in the balance.
Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and several other SLFP stalwarts who supported President Sirisena at the Presidential election had extensive discussions on the matter with the President on Sunday. At the discussion, Kumaratunga had stressed that Rajapaksa should not be allowed to contest from the SLFP, at any cost, she had also pointed out that there would be a serious split in the party and a group of MPs might join the UNP in the face of such a development.
Meanwhile, Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, Convener of the Movement for a Just Society, had contacted President Maithripala Sirisena over the phone and had expressed similar sentiments over Rajapaksa’s nominations, sources close to the President said.
President Maithripala Sirisena is yet to make a final decision on giving nominations to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest from the United People’s Freedom Alliance.Read More
