No nominations from Maithri for Mahinda!

From SL Mirror

President Maithripala Sirisena has reached a firm stance that his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa would not be given the prime ministerial candidature or nominations from the SLFP at the upcoming general election, reports say.

Leaders of Tamil, Muslim and leftist parties met the president (29) yesterday for a discussion, where the president listened to their request and stressed his stance, said United Left Front secretary Lal Wijenayake.

Meanwhile, several minority parties have asked the eight-member committee tasked by president Sirisena with obtaining the support of all parties to the UPFA have asked that Rajapaksa be not named its prime ministerial candidate.

Leaders of nine minority community parties met this committee yesterday for talks.
Tamil and Muslim parties are totally against giving nominations to Rajapaksa, but said it would not be a problem if his assistance is obtained towards the victory of the UPFA.

They stressed that the UPFA should contest the election under the leadership of president Sirisena, but not a defeated politician.

This committee, comprising S.B. Dissanayake, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Rajitha Senaratne, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Reginald Cooray, Sarath Amunugama and Thilanga Sumathipala is due to meet several other parties today.