That is because he is not among the 10 joint opposition MPs who had been removed from their positions as electoral organizers.

Aluthgamage had not been removed despite the facts that he actively engaged in organizing the protest march and is a strong critic of President Sirisena.

Also, no court action has been filed against him, although several months have gone by since the handover to the attorney general of the CID’s investigation reports that confirm that he had misused state property and funds.

He has been under probe under money laundering charges as he has failed to describe as to how he had acquired millions of rupees in cash found in his bank accounts and the valuable property he has bought.

Aluthgamage is also accused over the handover of 40 government projects to two of his friends without following the tender procedure when he was the sports minister.

Court action has already been filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa and Maj. Neville Wanniarchchi, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s chief bodyguard who face similar charges.

An MP of the joint opposition said it was with the knowledge of Mahinda Rajapaksa that Mahindananda and other MPs had discussions with advisers of the president to prevent a division of the SLFP.

Also, Mahinda does not have any suspicions about Mahindananda, he said.

The president had not removed his strong critics and Mahinda loyalists Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Bandula Gunawardena, Kumar Welgama, Ramesh Pathirana, Mohan de Silva, Johnston Fernando, Vidura Wickramanayake, Ranjith Soyza, Janaka Wakkumbura and Lohan Ratwatte in order to show that the joint opposition has been divided, he said further.

However, the SLFP general secretary says the MPs against whom charges have not been proven have not been removed as electoral organizers.