Highly placed political sources told Asian Mirror that Investment Promotions Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha is likely to make a public announcement on Friday (26) on his position with regard to the forthcoming presidential election.

The Deputy Minister said he would not support President Mahinda Rajapaksa if the BBS, a hardcore Sinhala-Buddhist organization, extended its support to the incumbent.

Now, the BBS has clearly expressed its position on the matter saying it would support President Mahinda Rajapaksa, unconditionally.

It is in this context that the Deputy Minister is to make an announcement on his decision.His announcement also comes against a backdrop where SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem has delayed the announcement of his final decision after much persuasion by the government.

Mustapha, a lawyer by profession, was election to Parliament in 2010 from the District of Kandy. Later he was appointed as the SLFP Organizer of Central-Colombo electorate whether there is a sizable proportion of urban Muslim votes.

Following Mustapha’s appointment as the Organizer of Central-Colombo, Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra too was appointed as a co-organizer of the same electorate. Premachandra has already joined the Common Opposition to support the candidature of Maithripala Sirisena