He accused those who would be attending the Kirulapone event of trying to kill the SLFP.

Soyza said he would attend the Galle rally to be led by president Maithripala Sirisena, to which both Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa have been invited.

However, Rajapaksa has said that he would not be there, and if he wants to divide the party, that will happen, said the minister.

He said attempts by those in the SLFP to divide the party would mean it would lose the local government elections.

Noting that Rajapaksa and himself would remain MPs for five years, Soyza said this situation would affect those wanting to contest the LG polls.

99 pc will go to Kirulapone

Meanwhile, convener of the LG bodies’ forum Udeni Athukorale said the true SLFPers were with Rajapaksa, and that the Kurulapone rally by the joint opposition would show where the people’s power was.

Nine nine per cent of UPFA representatives of LG bodies have decided to attend the Kirulapone event, according to him.

He told the media yesterday at the political office of Rajapaksa at Battaramulla that the joint opposition rally would be the best attended May Day event this year.