President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s first political rally for the Presidential Election 2015 will be held in Anuradhapura, this afternoon.

Political analysts said that the President was making a fresh move by holding his first election rally in the sacred city of Anuradhapura – which is also considered as a bastion of the common opposition.

Common Candidate of the opposition Maithripala Sirisena hails from Anuradhapura, the neighboring district of Anuradhapura. Also, former Minister Duminda Disanayake, who is the son of the former Chief Minister of the North Central Province, the late Berty  Premalal Dissanyake , also represents the District of Anuradhapura. He was one of the first ruling party members to support the campaign of Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

The President is expected to participate in the rally after receiving blessings from the Sri Jayasrimaha bodi and by the maha sanga. The rally will take place at Salgadu Grounds, in the city of Anuradhapura. Security has been strengthened in the area prior to the rally, Police sources told Asian Mirror this morning. 

 Sources in the ruling party said that all the top brass of the UPFA will take part in the rally and over 100 000 people from the Anuradhapura – Polonnaruwa area are expected to take part. Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, who took paths as the Minister of Health this morning, is also expected to attend the meeting. Meanwhile, there were rumours among the ruling party members this morning that there will be some crossovers from the opposition to the government during the rally. But no authoritative source confirmed the story.