The prolonged negotiations over the issue of giving nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the SLFP ended without conclusion last night.

 

President Maithripala Sirisena met with SLFP stalwarts including UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha and SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

 

The two general secretaries are supportive of giving nominations to the former president. Meanwhile, the six member committee appointed to promote party unity is of the same view. However, several party leaders including President Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga are vehemently opposed to the move.

 

President Sirisena assured several leftist leaders that Rajapaksa will not be given nominations at a meeting yesterday.