Rajapaksas in talks with Maithri for short-term compromise!

Sunday, 02 August 2015

The Mahinda Rajapaksa faction, after the failure of their attempt to regain power in the SLFP by any means, are now at talks to gain a short-term compromise, say SLFP sources.

Irrespective of the outcome of the general election, the Rajapaksas have requested that all investigations into charges of murder and corruption against them be halted, if they are not to disrupt the administration of president Maithripala Sirisena. Also, an assurance from the president to guarantee the political future of Namal Rajapaksa has come under discussion. However, the president has so far not given any favourable response.

An attempt by the Rajapaksa faction to convene the SLFP central committee before the election and gain its majority power for Rajapaksa, and to get the 36 ministers appointed by president Sirisena to resign in small groups have failed due to co-convener of the organization to protect the SLFP, Sirisena-loyalist Prasanna Solangaarachchi’s having obtained a court order against a CC meeting.

Summonses were called in this case on July 29, but the main respondent, SLFP general secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa intentionally avoided presence at the hearing, prompting the court to extend the stay order until August 07. Since both attempts to get the stay order dissolved and to get ministers to resign have failed, Mahinda Rajapaksa has started talks, through Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, with the president.

Mahinda has lured Gotabhaya, a close friend of president Sirisena, for these talks.