Hurdles to Maithri-Mahinda unity

Many hurdles have come in the way of efforts by SLFP seniors to unite president Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa before the upcoming local government polls, say party sources.

The main reason for that is the firm stance by Rajapaksa-loyalists, led by Kumar Welgama, that the ex-president should be given leadership of the party.

Welgama has told BBC Sandeshaya that he was prepared to accept Sirisena as the publicly-mandated president, but since the people were with Rajapaksa, he should be given the party’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa told his friends yesterday (19) that it was a joke to speak about unity, as president Sirisena continued to take revenge from his family and himself.

Rajapaksa claimed that it was his successor who was provoking police into act against his family.