A pro-Rajapaksa party senior told ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ that the ex-president would never take a decision that hindered the party’s unity, and targeted to gain its power after the polls.

Rajapaksa is fully supportive of the public rallies being organized at district level to demand that he be named the UPFA’s prime ministerial candidate, he said.

When contacted, a coordinating secretary to president Maithripala Sirisena said on condition of anonymity that Rajapaksa was getting these rallies organized to pressurize the incumbent against taking action against the massive frauds, corruption and crimes committed by his family.