Sri Lanka ex-leader quits as party head

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has agreed to step down as head of his party, clearing the way for the country’s new president to take full control, an aide said yesterday. President Maithripala Sirisena had been the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), but was kicked out of the party ahead of elections after he broke from Mr Rajapaksa in November to become the common opposition candidate. Mr Sirisena, who toppled longtime strongman Mr Rajapaksa in last week’s polls, claimed the party leadership following the vote but Mr Rajapaksa’s loyalists refused to back him, threatening to split the party. “He [Rajapaksa] met with Mr Sirisena on Wednesday night and discussed the future of the SLFP,” the aide said. “It was decided that at a meeting on Friday, Mr. Sirisena will be confirmed as the new leader of the party.”