The opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of which it is part, seem to be heading for a split after '55 UPFA and SLFP MPs' attended a pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa rally at Kurunegala on Friday, The New Indian Express said.

Among those who attended was former Foreign Minister G.L.Peiris. But  significantly, none of the SLFP and UPFA ministers in the Maithripala Sirisena government and the General Secretaries of the SLFP and UPFA, namely, Anura Praiyadarshana Yapa and Susil Premajayantha,  attended. This indicates that the Council of Ministers and the organizational structures of the SLFP and the UPFA continue to be with Sirisena, TNIE pointed out.

With Sirisena refusing to accede to Rajapaksa’s request to be named the Prime Ministerial candidate of the SLFP/UPFA combine in the coming parliamentary elections, Rajapaksa had no option but to strike out on his own. His request for the withdrawal of cases against him and his group, was not granted. His plea to postpone the local bodies’ elections was also turned down.

In a message to the rally, Rajapaksa said that he was defeated in the January 8 Lankan Presidential election by a “conspiracy” and that his life is in danger. But he promised to resume political activism when the people ask for it.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)