In an interesting turn of events, a stalwart of the common opposition has told his closest associates that President Mahinda Rajapaksa still has a lead of 60:40 over common candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena, Asian Mirror reliably learns.

“The present lead,” he has said, “is due to the early start of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election campaign. Although the common opposition has held its first election rally in Polonnaruwa, there is still no comprehensive plan where the way forward of the campaign is concerned.”

However, the present calculation might be changed with the progress of the two campaigns, he added.

The biggest problem that confronts the common opposition at the moment is the lack of cohesion – which the opposition’s campaign is characterized with. There is still a confusion over the role of the former President in the entire process with a certain section of the opposition complaining she is overriding the entire campaign.

Asian Mirror revealed that the Jathika Hela Urumaya had already urged the leaders of the common opposition – including UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe – to “limit” her role to conducting negotiations with “possible” SLFP defectors. However, the role the former President played at the signing of the common opposition’s MOU has raised many an eyebrow, not only among the stalwarts of the JHU, but also among the top rung leaders of the United National Party.

When asked about this, a senior spokesman of the opposition told Asian Mirror that every stakeholder of the common opposition alliance should be held responsible for the present state of affairs. “However, it is not a time to lament to lament over the past mistakes or to find faults with anyone. The next 30 days will be crucial for us in terms of determining the final result of the election. I admit that it is high time for the common opposition to put its act together as we are just four days away from the final date of nominations,” the spokesperson added.