UPFA MP Udayashantha Gunasekara said that a majority of SLFP MPs will join with the new political front which will be established by the 'Joint Opposition'.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, Gunasekara said that the 'Joint Opposition', which supports former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is in serious discussions on the formation of a new front. Even though a final decision is yet to be taken, the formation of this front is almost a certainty, he added.

Gunasekara also said that President Maithripala Sirisena has betrayed the trust as the leader of the country as well as the leader of the SLFP. The ground level membership of the SLFP and the UPFA do not want to face an election under Sirisena's leadership, Gunasekara argued. This has left the 'Joint Opposition' with no alternative but to form a new alliance, he added.

Furthermore, Gunasekara acknowledged that the SLFP MPs in the 'Joint Opposition' will have to take a serious political decision in the event of the establishment of a new front. "However, many of them will join with the new front," he said.

The United Opposition is most likely to contest the upcoming Local Government election without the support of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Left Democratic Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, Nanayakkara said that the ‘United Opposition’ was reluctant to contest with the SLFP, since the SLFP has aligned with the UNP. If the SLFP and the United Opposition contests as one team, it will create a contradiction, since the SLFP supports the UNP while the United Opposition was opposed to the UNP, Nanayakkara said.

He explained that the United Opposition has been formed by a group of SLFP MPs and all other parties in the UPFA. Nanayakkara further pointed out that they are slowly strengthening the United Opposition and facing challenges as they come.

UPFA MP and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa was prevented from leaving the country from the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport this morning.

He arrived at the airport to board a flight for Rome, Italy. He was to visit Europe for a lecture series.

Wimal Weerawansa told media that he was stopped and questioned by the CID at the airport.

Meanwhile, UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena informed the Parliament of the incident, reports said.

UPFA Western Provincial Council Member Upali Kodikara was arrested by Cinnamon Gardens Police for obstructing police duty, a short while ago.

Kodikara had struggled with a policeman on duty at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges at BMICH on October 16 when he was stopped from entering the commission premises.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the commission to give a statement on the default of payment due to the ITN for Presidential Election advertisements.

Kodikara had arrived with the former President. He is a strong supporter of Rajapaksa.

UPFA MP and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that the government is not providing the Parliamentarians with necessary documents pertaining to the debate on the UNHRC Resolution to be held in Parliament next week.

Speaking at a press conference today, Gunawardena said that certain reports have not yet been made available to the MPs.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on October 9 that the Udalagama and Paranagama Presidential Commission Reports would be tabled on October 20.

The debate on the UNHRC resolution is scheduled for October 22 and 23.

UPFA Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa said that bringing a 'hybrid court' to investigate alleged war crimes is an insult to the judicial system in the country when it has the knowledge and capacity to address the issues.

Answering a question at a Facebook Q & A session this afternoon, Rajapaksa said that this step will have an impact on the sovereignty of the country.

Any inquiry must be impartial and transparent, Rajapaksa said and added that the government "must educate the public of any understandings they have with the international community on this matter (without hidden agendas)".

Several UPFA MPs launched a protest in Parliament today, forcing the Parliamentary session to be adjourned for ten minutes.

UPFA MPs including Udaya Gammanpila, Niroshan Premaratne, Jayantha Samaraweera and Weerakumara Dissanayake held a banner protesting against the 'Hybrid Court' which they claimed the government was planning to introduce to introduce.

Minister of Science, Technology and Research Susil Premajayantha, who was also the former UPFA General Secretary, is expected join Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his official visit to Japan later this week.

Wickremesinghe will leave the island on October 3 for a five day visit. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will also accompany the Prime Minister.

The inclusion of Premajayantha is interesting in the backdrop of his staunch support to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the August 17 General Election.

The Sri Lankan delegation is expected to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other government officials in Japan.

Former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said that the UPFA Committee for Media and Propaganda Affairs appointed for the January 2015 Presidential Election is responsible for the outstanding payments to the ITN.

Speaking to media after giving a statement to the Presidential Commission for Inquiry, Premajayantha said that different committees are being appointed for election purposes to handle the matters related to different aspects. After these committees are appointed, the General Secretary does not get involved with their activities directly, he said.

He also said that he played no role in raising campaign funds for elections. According to election law, he had other tasks to fulfill, he added. 

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had earlier given a statement to the commission, reportedly indicating that the secretary of the party is responsible for election matters.

Former General Secretary of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Susil Premajayantha, arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), a short while ago, to record a statement over the non-payment of money due to the ITN.

He was summoned based on a statement made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently to the PRECIFAC.

Rajapaksa told the commission that he was not responsible for the non-payment since he was merely the candidate of the UPFA. Election matters are handled by the Secretary of the Parties.