By Anura Balasuriya

There was confusion at the ‘Ape Gama’, Battaramulla on Saturday during a meeting of the SLFP Executive Committee and the National Working Committee with members representing the local bodies holding a protest demanding that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa be made the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate or they would not support any other candidate.

They challenged the hierarchy to form a government without Mahinda Rajapaksa if it could.

As President Maithripala Sirisena left the premises the confusion reigned.

The protesters tried to block the path of Hirunika Premachandra, Minister M. K. D. S. Gunawardane and Prasanna Solangarachchi, while they were leaving the premises after the meeting and they were taken away with the greatest difficulty.

Former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa were not present.

New General Secretary of the party Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that the two leaders had sent letters that they were not in a position to attend the meeting due to unavoidable circumstances.

The protest was held by a group of MPs and chairmen of some local bodies.

Courtesy:The Island