Opposition Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera’s “would-be” crossover to the government still hangs in the balance, sources close to Samaraweera told Asian Mirror.

Samaraweera, who is the head of the Media and Communication unit of the UNP, is presently in Singapore. Coincidentally, Democratic Party Leader and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and his former Secretary Senaka Haripriya de Silva are also to visit Singapore soon.

A spokesman of Fonseka’s party said there might be a meeting between two parties in Singapore over future political plans.

A close associate of Samaraweera told Asian Mirror yesterday that Samaraweera would certainly leave the party if UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe became the presidential candidate of the UNP at the upcoming election.

“If Wickremesinghe fails to secure victory at the presidential election he will certainly lose the party leadership too. That will make way for Sajith Premadasa to become the party leader and that is Samaraweera’s greatest concern at the moment. The UNP will be able to retain him if it fields a common candidate who is acceptable to every party,” a close associate of Samaraweera said yesterday.

Meanwhile multiple parties have requested Samaraweera to remain in the opposition and decline the “offers” he has received from the government.

In the government camp too, there is a contention of some sort over Samaraweera’s possible crossover. A sizable proportion of UPFA Parliamentarians are of the view that Samaraweera, who was a key member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party for over 18 years, should not be welcomed to the government.

Samaraweera was a staunch critique of the government in the recent past over its “abuse of power” and the human rights track record of the country.