The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) members who were recently expelled from the party for opposing the decision to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming presidential election, have decided to support common Kandidate Maithripala Sirisena.

Former Central Provincial Council Member and Politburo Member of the LSSP Lal Wijenayake announced this decision at a press briefing in Kandy yesterday.

Three Central Committee members and three Politburo members were recently expelled from the party for opposing the decision to support Rajapaksa.

Wijenayake said that they are following the example of the leaders of the party, adding that it was Dr. NM Perera who even published a book against the executive presidency when it was first introduced. “For the last 35 years, we have been fighting to eliminate executive presidency,” he added.