Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya, a close ally of President Maithripala Sirisena requested all SLFP candidates to use photographs of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for their election campaigns.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, Devapriya said Rajapaksa was still a member of the SLFP and therefore party candidates can use his popularity for the party's benefit. 

The statement comes against a backdrop where the SLFP has warned its MPs that they will lose their Parliamentary seats if they support the Joint Opposition election campaign. 

Rajapaksa has publicly claimed that he will lead the election campaign of the Joint Opposition, despite the positions he hold in the SLFP.