Sirisena discusses political differences with Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa held talks here on Wednesday, in a move seen as an attempt by the former president to stage a political comeback and bridge their differences after the January elections.

The meeting, the first since Rajapaksa’s humiliating defeat in the January 8 presidential poll, was held at the parliament complex to discuss the electoral future of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Following the meeting, Rajapaksa faction claimed that Sirisena has not responded positively to an intent by Rajapaksa to make a political comeback. “We did not hear a satisfactory answer to five points raised at the discussion”, Dullas Alahapperuma spokesman for the Rajapaksa faction said.

Alahapperuma said further talks would continue.

Rajapaksa vacated the party leadership to make way for Sirisena to succeed him following the electoral defeat.

A section of the party wants Sirisena to nominate Rajapaksa as the SLFP’s prime ministerial candidate in the impending parliamentary election.

Sirisena must call a parliamentary election soon in keeping with his pre-presidential election pledge to convene a new assembly.

Sirisena, who was the health minister and No 2 in Rajapaksa’s government, had split from the government just before the presidential poll to contest against Rajapaksa.

Following his victory, Sirisena was made chairman of the SLFP.