Former Prime Minister and Senior Minister Rathnasiri Wickremanayake was a notable absentee during the launch of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's election manifesto 'Mahinda Chinthana Lowa Dinana Maga".

Wickremenayake chose to stay out of the ceremony in a context where it is widely speculated that he might cross over to the Common Opposition.

However, the former Prime Minister has always remained tight-lipped on his "crossover". Over the past four years, Wickremanayake has been a critique of some policies of the government, saying the government is not travelling down the ‘right track”. He has made his position clear on bribery and corruption, nepotism, cost of living and other similar socio-economic issues in public forums.
 
Many ruling party MPs whose names were mentioned in connection with crossovers in the recent past were present at the launching ceremony of President Rajapaksa's election manifesto.