“He is willing to do anything to keep the party united,” the spokesperson replied, to a query whether the former President would agree not to contest in the elections on the condition that most of the party tickets was given to his supporters.

Asked about the discussion held by a six-member committee, constituted by the SLFP chairperson and President Maithripala Sirisena to thrash out inner-party issues, with Mr Rajapaksa on Thursday morning, the spokesperson, who is also a member of the panel, said the discussion was “fruitful” and “several issues” were covered. In the event of the two camps facing the polls together, the party would emerge victorious and form a “stable government,” a scenario which India also would like to see in Sri Lanka, Mr Perera added.

Denial

Referring to reports in sections of the local press that a meeting was held between President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the official residence of Parliament Speaker and the former President’s brother, Chamal Rajapkasa, on Thursday night, a release issued by the President’s Media Division on Friday termed them as “totally false.”

(thehindu.com/)