COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa met SLPP provincial council members in the Monaragala District on Sunday (September 02). Former State Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena also attended the meeting to represent the group of 16 members who left the government.

Former President Rajapaksa expressing his views stated that the Sri Lanka Podujana Permuna (SLPP) was created because a large group of SLFPers were chased away from the party after he handed over the leadership of the party.

Chairman of the SLFP Youth Front, Shantha Bandara reacting to the views expressed by Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that he was disappointed to hear such statements from the former President.

Bandara reminded the general public that the leadership of the SLFP was transferred to President Maithripala Sirisena with everyone’s consent and that it is clearly stated in the party constitution that a member of the SLFP cannot support another political party.

Bandara stated that it was President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Chairman of the SLFP, who granted the nomination for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest for a seat in Parliament from Kurunegala.

According to Shantha Bandara, the SLPP was created with the sole purpose of grabbing power.