Nalin has been supporting Thilanga, but the SLC chief is suspecting that as head of media at the Ports Authority, he had come under pressure.

The ports minister is Arjuna Ranatunga, whose brother Nishantha contested unsuccessfully for the SLC president position.

Arjuna too, failed to get elected as a vice president.

Of the 145 valid votes, Thilanga polled 88 votes, and Nishantha collected 56 votes, while Nalin was the only absentee at the vote.