With President Maithripala Sirisena not in favor of giving nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest from the SLFP in the upcoming general election, the Rajapaksa camp have started looking into the possibility of contesting from another party. Several possible parties are reportedly being discussed including one political party which renamed itself recently.

 

The Rajapaksa camp is reportedly exploring the possibility of contesting from the People's Alliance, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and the Sri Lanka National Force.

 

The Sri Lanka National Force was originally known as the Patriotic National Front. Its electoral symbol is the flag. Its Secretary is Piyasiri Wijenayake, a close associate of National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa and also a member of that party.

 

Contesting from People's Alliance will allow Rajapaksa to cling on to the claim that he did not desert the SLFP, since it is also a constituent of the PA. The MEP is also a familiar party in Sri Lankan politics. However, the Sri Lanka National Force is a relatively newcomer. However, its name change at this juncture is an interesting fact to note, since it was a party with no real prospect of coming to active politics.