The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has axed several members of the '16 group' from their electoral organizer posts . 

Former Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Chandima Weerakkody have been removed from their organizer positions. 

Sources close to the '16 Group' said the official reason for the dismissal was their failure to set up grassroots level (balamandala) organizations in their electorates. 

However , this group worked closely with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the breakaway party formed by the supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, recently.

They even took part in the 'Janabalaya' protest campaign organized by the SLPP. 

The 16 Group joined the opposition, in April, this year, having voted against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during the no confidence vote.