Certain Sri Lanka Freedom Party members opposed to the return of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa are confident that Rajapaksa's support base is being highly exaggerated. This group also believes that the party would perform quite well in the upcoming general election even without the support of Rajapaksa.

 

A close associate of the anti-Rajapaksa camp told Asian Mirror that most of the former MPs and other supporters of Rajapaksa have been discredited by their conduct. They also have a lesser popular support base than imagined, this source pointed out. A new set of cleaner candidates will do much better than the discredited old-guard from the Rajapaksa camp, the anti-Rajapaksa camp believes.

 

Furthermore, there are several groups including the Jathika Hela Urumaya and some left wing parties which could join Maithripala Sirisena in forming a new alliance. JHU Chairman Athuraliye Rathana Thera yesterday lashed out at Rajapaksa's 'gang', saying that there was no possibility of supporting his return to politics if he returned along with his 'gang.'

 

Given these factors, the anti-Rajapaksa faction believes that it can outperform the Rajapaksa camp without much of a difficulty.

 

Meanwhile, more than 30 SLFP members have threatened to walk out if Rajapaksa is given nominations to contest the election from SLFP.