Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to contest the general election from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna under its symbol, the wheel.

 

Informed sources told that the Rajapaksa camp arrived at this decision at the special meeting last night held at the former president's residence in Mirihana. The meeting was convened following President Maithripala Sirisena's refusal to allow him contest from the SLFP.

 

The President decided to desist from giving nomination to Rajapaksa after a group of SLFP MPs informed the party leadership that they would distance themselves from the party at the next election, if the party gave nominations to the former President. Among them were former President Chandrika Bandaranaike, a patron of the SLFP, Duminda Dissanayake, M.K.D.S. Gunawardena, Arjuna Ranatunga and Hirunika Premachandra.

 

A close Rajapaksa supporter recently told media that it would be wrong to say that Rajapaksa abandonded the SLFP if he were to contest from the MEP. Even SLFP founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike contested the 1956 General Election under the MEP ticket, this supporter explained.