Three UPFA members of the Uva Provincial Council including Shasheendra Rajapaksa sat in the opposition today. 

Rajapaksa, a former Chief Minister, is the nephew of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

The current Chief Minister of the Uva Provincial Council is Chamara Sampath Dissanayake, a supporter of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Shashindra Rajapaksa and the others who joined the opposition today are well-known supporters of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.