Seven Independent Group candidates who contested  for Maharagama Local Government body at the Local Government election under the symbol 'motorcycle' , with the support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), have now refused to step down from their seats. 

The members  of the group have informed the Elections Authorities that they do not intend to step down from their seats.

They had said they would continue to serve the people of Maharagama, as per their mandate.

This announcement has thrown the SLPP into an embarrassing situation, as they campaigned heavily for the motorcycle candidates during the election period. 

The SLPP supported the Independent Group with the belief that its members would step down from their seats, upon election, paving way for SLPP candidates to take over the affairs of the Local Government body. 

The SLPP decided to back the Independent Group after its nomination papers for the Local Government body were rejected due to errors. With the support of the SLPP, the Independent Group won the LG body with a comfortable margin. 

However, the candidates of the Independent Group drew the attention of social media circles as none of them were residents in the Maharagama area. 

A few of them lived in an area called 'Marmite Janapadaya', in Divulapitiya, in the Gampaha district.