Daily NEWS Srilanka

With the confirmation that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Political attention has specially been drawn towards the issue as to whether he would contest from UPF or else contest separately. After coming to know that he was to contest from the UPF; Rajitha, Hirunika, Chandrika and the crowd who had opposed him and come into the Maithri camp have been subjected to a predicament. According to news being received so far, Hirunika, Rajitha inclusive of 36 others who joined hands with Maithri are to have a special discussion today and tomorrow and focus attention on a political decision for the future. Miss Hirunika Premachandra had addressed the media this morning and has made a special statement saying that President Maithripala Sirisena has been a traitor to 62 lakhs of voters by getting together with former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. She has also said that she would not join the United National Party and would give attention to the point at discussions being held today whether she would come from a different Alliance.

It is the opinion of this group that specially if the group for whom allegations of corruption are aimed are brought in by him and thus contest from the UPF ticket, the crowd that were in possession of power in Sri Lanka prior to January 9th would once again be brought on to the stage in a different manner and what Maithripala Sirisena aspired to change would not take place within the Party.

It was yesterday that the President's Media Unit had made an announcement to the effect that Mahinda Rajapaksa would not be made a candidate only for the position of Prime Minister. The announcement had not mentioned therein that permission would not be granted an opportunity for Mahinda to contest from UPF.

Under these circumstances whether Mahinda is appointed the Prime Minister or not, he would nevertheless be launching a political campaign as the unofficial leader of the UPF. The former President Chandrika too would at once be entering the election tussel under this background. In view of the manner in which they launched an attack against Mahinda during the past poses a question as to how they are facing this particular dilemma. In the meantime Athureliye Rathana Thero has issued a statement and said that if they are expected to contest by uniting with the UPF  encompassing the crowd of Mahinda who are subjected to allegations, he and his Party would contest separately.