JHU Deputy General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila who left the government two weeks ago is currently attending a UPFA  media briefing that is underway in Colombo.

He has stated that he will be supporting President Mahinda Rajapaksha in the upcoming presidential election. The former western provincial councillor also stated that he would be resigning from the JHU and would continue to support the president as an independent politician.

On  November 18 the JHU took a collective decision to step away from the government and on the same day Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila stepped down from their positions.

After much speculation,  on November 29, the JHU revealed that they would support common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

The defection comes a day after two deputy ministers stepped down from their positions and pledged their support to the common candidate.

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