Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday night told his successor Maithripala Sirisena that he was giving up SLFP leadership during a hastily arranged meeting close to midnight on Wednesday at Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s official residence near Diyawanna.

The meeting took place consequent to talks between an SLFP delegation led by Senior Vice President of the party Nimal Siripala de Silva and President Maithripala Sirisena on the evening of January 12 at Wijerama Mawatha residence of the former SLFP General Secretary.

Well informed sources told The Island that President Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor had agreed that the SLFP parliamentary delegation would sit in the Opposition.

Nimal Siripala de Silva is expected to receive appointment as the Opposition Leader.

Meanwhile, former minister Dilan Perera yesterday told a gathering at the foreign employment ministry that President Maithripala Sirisena would announce on Friday (Jan.16) the taking over of the SLFP. MP Perera was addressing the media at the foreign employment ministry premises after MP Talata Atukorale took over the ministry.

Turning towards MP Atukorale, a smiling MP Perera said that our leader would be your leader as well.

SLFP sources said that high level delegations representing President Maithripala Sirisena and the former President would meet today at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Sources speculated that the former SLFP leader was expected to attend, while the possibility of the President taking part in deliberations couldn’t be ruled out.

Courtesy:The Island