Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said his was against the decision made by the senior leadership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) to support the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to appoint a mayor. 

"I am against, & deeply concerned, regarding the decision taken by Senior Leadership of the SLPP in Hambantota to support the sLFP in appointing a mayor there," Rajapaksa tweeted today.

UPFA's Eraj Fernando, former Chairman of Hambantota Urban Council which rose to fame for wielding a toy pistol a few years ago, became the head of the Local Government body again with the support of the SLPP. 

Although the UNP held the highest number of seats at the council, the opposition parties showed a majority support when it came to the appointment of the head of the council.

Fernando came under severe criticism for attacking UNP MPs who visited the Mattala Airport for a fact-finding tour, under the previous administration.