MR AND 54 SLFP MEMBERS OBTAIN SLPP MEMBERSHIP
Several other SLFP parliamentarians have also indicated that they will join the SLPP
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and a group of 54 SLFP members yesterday deserted the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and obtained membership in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), popularly known as Pohottuwa party.
The SLFP parliamentarians including a number of Ministers of the caretaker government have also obtained membership of the SLPP along with Prime Minister Rajapaksa.
Former MP, son of Mr. Rajapaksa, Namal, Janaka Bandara Thennakoon, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Kanchana Wijesekara, Tharanath Basnayaka, Susantha Punchinilame, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, Sumedha Jayasena and Sudharshini Fernandopulle also were among Ministers and former MPS who joined the SLPP yesterday in order to face the upcoming General Election.
“We will strive to create a broader coalition with many stakeholders under the leadership of Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa to face the upcoming General Election and come out victorious,” Namal Rajapaksa said in a Twitter post.
Several other SLFP parliamentarians have also indicated that they will join the SLPP to become a broader coalition to win the upcoming election.
A spokesperson of the SLPP said nearly 30 other SLFP Ministers and former deputy Ministers, State Ministers and MPS had consented to obtain the SLPP membership before the start of the nomination scheduled on 19th, November.