The meeting between President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and party leaders of the ruling camp has ended on a positve note yesterday, several government sources told Asian Mirror.

The meeting was attended by National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila, Athuraliye Rathana Thera and several minor party leaders within the government. The relations between the SLPP and these party leaders were strained in the recent past due to a number of reasons.

Speaking to the media after the discussion, Weerawansa said both parties in the discussion ended it on a positive note agreeing to meet regularly.

During the discussion, they had reportedly requested the President to engage in politics actively without confining himself to the duties and functions of the Executive. Weerawansa recently sparked a controversy publicly requesting the President to become the Leader of the SLPP.

Many political observers say this is an attempt to counterbalance Basil Rajapaksa's influence in the SLPP.