State Minister of Fisheries Dilip Wedaarachchi stated that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was effectively divided by now and will contest the election as two groups.

Speaking at a recent meeting in Hambantota District, Wedaarachchi said that the faction led by former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and others will contest the election under the old ‘hand’ symbol. Meanwhile, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s group will contest under another symbol, he said.

He made this remark in the backdrop of accusations at certain UNP members that they are promoting former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to encourage the break-up of SLFP. Asian Mirror reliably learned that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga had recently made this accusation at certain UNP leaders.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Rajitha Senaratne publicly stated on Friday that UNP was encouraging Rajapaksa to split the party. He said that it is the nature of politics.