UPFA MP Kumara Welgama stated that around 75 MPs will attend the pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa rally at Matara on June 12, urging the nomination of the former president as UPFA candidate for Prime Minister.

If his prediction becomes reality, it will be the largest number of MPs who turned up for a pro-Rajapaksa rally.

The rallies were originally organized by four parties within the UPFA, namely the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, the National Freedom Front, the Democratic Left Front and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya.

Initially, only a handful of SLFP MPs attended these rallies. However, the numbers increased thereafter.

Interestingly, President Maithripala Sirisena recently told the UPFA party leaders that he is opposed to giving nominations for Mahinda Rajapaksa from the UPFA. However, the Rajapaksa camp has suggested that he will contest from another party if he is not given nominations from the UPFA.

Sirisena awarded deputy ministerial portfolios to four SLFP MPs today, including two MPs from Matara District. Some analysts see it as a desperate move to control the party MPs.