Sri Lanka Communist Party alternative group expressed its supports to Maithripala Sirisena in the upcoming presidential election. This group includes 21 members of the Central Committee of the party.

Speaking at a media briefing, All Ceylon Trade Union Federation Secretary and Sri Lanka Communist Party Central Committee Member DNA Subasinghe said that the party had been following the rulers in recent years with little questioning. Since the Communist Party does not raise any voice, people have forgotten that there is such a party, he added.

The party had voted for the 18th Amendment but later in a self-critical decision, it had decided that voting for the Amendment was wrong. Nevertheless, the majority of the Central Committee once again decided to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa despite the promises of good governance given by the opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

The dissenting members took the decision to break party discipline by coming out to support Maithripala Sirisena against the majority of the Central Committee, Subasinghe added.

Meanwhile, speaking at the press briefing, Communist Party Politburo member and Trade Union Front Secretary Hema Wilbet said that two main trade union federations attached to the party have decided to back Sirisena hoping he will deliver his promises mainly on good governance.