Former Minister and SLFP "16 group" member Dayasiri jayasekera said they had to leave the government as they wanted a "SLFP Prime Minister."

"But most people haven't figured that out yet. They think we have joined the 'Pohottuwa' party," Jayasekera said, addressing an SLFP meeting in the Kegalle district. 

"We have only one leader and that is President Maithripala Sirisena," he added. 

The former Minister said they could not work with "other leaders" in the government. 

"But," Jayasekera said, "many people, including seasoned politicians have understood what we did."

The '16 group' sat in the opposition having voted against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the No confidence vote in April, this year.