A section of Sri Lanka Freedom Party MPs have now launched a fresh attempt to remove former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from the leadership of the party.

According to the party constitution, the SLFP member who holds the highest position in the government should be appointed as the leader of the party. The group of SLFP Parliamentarians contend that President Maithripala Sirisena should be appointed as the leader of the SLFP on the same grounds.

“Although he was removed from positions he held in the party, his party membership still remains intact. On the other hand, there are questions over the manner in which he was removed from the General Secretary position of the party. Therefore, President Maithripala Sirisena stands a chance to become the Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party,” a Parliamentarian who spoke to Asian Mirror said under the condition of anonymity.

It has already been revealed that a few senior Cabinet Ministers of the former UPFA government are now holding discussions with the new ruling coalition on joining hands with the national unity government. It is clear that President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has a strong support base among members of the top decision making bodies of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

It is against this backdrop that the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is meeting with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the chair. A day before the meeting however, Basil Rajapaksa, National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, left for the US where he is a green card holder.

If and when Maithripala Sirisena is appointed as the Leader of the party, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s role in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will be reduced to a great extent.