Former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena has been removed from the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The UPFA MP told media that he has received a letter notifying of the decision.

On April 11, MPs Bandula Gunawardena, S.M. Chandrasena, T.B. Ekanayake and Salinda Dissanayake received letters informing them of their removal from the Central Committee of SLFP. Abeygunawardena was also rumored to have been removed, but it was not confirmed.

All MPs concerned have openly supported the naming of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the UPFA candidate for Prime Minister. Furthermore, they have supported the move by certain MPs of the UPFA to appoint Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena as the Opposition Leader.

All five MPs who were removed from the SLFP CC were present at the pro-Rajapaksa rally in Rathnapura on March 26, defying a banning order from the CC.