More than 20 former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ministers, MPs and senior figures who left the party ahead of the last general election are preparing to rejoin it in January, according to Rohitha Abeygunawardena, MP of the New Democratic Front (NDF), Lankadeepa reported.

Speaking to Lankadeepa yesterday (25), Abeygunawardena said he himself would “definitely” rejoin the SLPP and is already in discussions with party officials regarding his return.

He said a group of over 20 former SLPP heavyweights who distanced themselves from the party prior to the previous general election are now aligned with him, and that this group had also taken part in talks held recently in Narahenpita with SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa.

Among those expected to return are former ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Ramesh Pathirana and Chinthaka Mayadunna, he said. Abeygunawardena added that many from this group, including former ministers such as himself and Ramesh Pathirana, also took part in the Opposition’s rally held on 21 November.

He stressed that he had never left the SLPP, noting that he chose to contest the last general election under the ‘cylinder’ symbol as the most viable option for securing a parliamentary seat. He said the group contesting under the cylinder symbol in Kalutara had a stronger chance of winning compared to the SLPP list in the district, which enabled him to secure the single seat available. (Courtesy: Lankadeepa)