The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has unanimously decided to appoint President Maithripala Sirisena as Chairman of the party a short while ago.

Sirisena arrived at the SLFP Central Committee meeting accompanied by several others including Duminda Dissanayake.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not attend the Central Committee meeting. However, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa was present.

This move comes hours after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's announcement that he would be handing over the leadership of the SLFP to President Sirisena.