CBK Strongly Turns Down Requests To Work With The Rajapaksas At LG Polls

December 28, 2015

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has strongly turned down requests made by party seniors to work with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure the party's victory at the forthcoming Local Government election. 

Kumaratunga has made it clear that the Rajapaksas should stay out of the party's election campaign as they were responsible for the SLFP's defeat at two successive national level elections. 

A group of party seniors, including Minister S.B. Dissanayake, are currently holding discussions to bring the two former Presidents together in the run up to the Local Government election. 

Informed political sources told Asian Mirror that they would hold discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena, former President Rajapaksa and former President Kumaratunga separately to iron out differences between the three leaders. 

Speaking to Asian Mirror, a senior Parliamentarian involved in the discussions expressed hopes that Kumaratunga would 'soften' her stance in the future, considering the gravity of the matter. 

However, during their discussions with party seniors. members of the Rajapaksa family had stated that they were ready to work with anyone to ensure the party's victory at the Local Government election. 

The SLFP seniors are of the view that if the former President fail to reach an understanding, the party will face a serious division ahead of the Local Government election. Such a scenario, they said, would facilitate an easy victory for the UNP. 

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