UPFA MP Manusha Nanayakkara told Asian Mirror that a large number of Sri Lanka Freedom Party leaders will take part in the next rally in support of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa at Kurunegala.

The rallies are held to urge the SLFP to name former president Rajapaksa as its candidate for Prime Minister in the next election.

More than 25 SLFP MPs and Provincial Council Members took part in the third of these rallies held in Ratnapura recently. Nanayakkara said that an unexpected number of SLFP leaders will turn up at the Kurunegala meeting.

Nanayakkara also pointed out that people around the country were demanding Rajapaksa named the candidate for Prime Minister. The support within the SLFP was also growing, he added.

Meanwhile, in a recent television interview, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila stated that around 40 representatives could turn up in Kurunegala for the rally.