If Basil becomes involved the 5.8 million votes for the party will come down to 200,000 votes, he has told western province chief minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

The two were having a chat at Tangalle’s Carlton home of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Those who visited the ex-leader at his home recently had an extensive discussion on Basil’s imminent return to the island, and almost all of them were of the view that he should not be accepted back to the SLFP.

Basil Rajapaksa has told Sri Lanka Mirror that he has no intention of returning to politics.