Minister of Land M.K.D.S. Gunawardena stated that one individual cannot suspend SLFP members and there was a proper mechanism which should be adapted.

President's Media Unit announced yesterday that President Maithripala Sirisena had suspended the membership of five SLFP members who joined the United National Front to contest in the forthcoming general election.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, MKDS Gunawardena said that there was a procedure to be followed in suspending a member from the SLFP. A charge sheet has to be presented and an inquiry has to be carried out, he added. No charge sheet was presented to him over the matter, he added.

Furthermore, Gunawardena argued that they had not joined the United National Party. "We only joined the United National Front for Good Governance" he elaborated.

Other members who were suspended included Rajitha Senaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga, S.B. Nawinne and Hirunika Premachandra. Nawinne joined the UNP before the announcement of the UNFGG.