The reason is that to become the Leader of the Opposition, the former President must become an MP and the only way for it to happen is for him to take his seat as a National List MP after making another Parliamentarian resign from the seat.

Rajapaksa cannot be taken in as a National List MP as his name was not on the National List of the Party at the 2011 Parliamentary election.

As a result a large number of senior SLFP stalwarts want Nimal Siripala de Silva to be appointed as the Opposition Leader.

However the move to bring in Rajapaksa into Parliament is still underway as one National List MP in the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has consented to vacate his seat and make way for the defeated ex-strongman.