Several powerful figures in the president’s election operations committee have strongly objected to the presence of Basil Rajapaksa and his followers at its meetings.
Anura Yapa and Nimal Lanza boycotted its meeting that was followed by dinner on Monday in protest against Rajapaksa being invited.
Yapa’s New Alliance and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Nimal Siripala faction strongman Duminda Dissanayake have decided to boycott committee meetings if Rajapaksa attends.
They say president Ranil Wickremesinghe could obtain the support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna at the presidential election, but he should not get the Rajapaksas on his election stage.