SLFP local councilors are contemplating legal action if they are expelled from the party following yesterday's Central Committee decision to institute disciplinary action against them.

Gampaha Pradeshiya Sabha former Chairman Ranjith Gunawardena told a local news channel that they are not the ones to be expelled.

Arguing that they have never split the party, he maintained that those who split the party are now planning disciplinary action against them.

The SLFP Central Committee decided to take disciplinary action against nine local councilors who had criticized the party leadership recently. Groups of local councilors recently held meetings across several districts, expressing their support for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the Central Committee also decided to prohibit SLFP MPs from sitting independent in Parliament.

The 'Joint Opposition' which backs Rajapaksa is preparing to launch a new political party. Whether the pro-Rajapaksa section of the SLFP joins this new party remains a question.