Basil Rajapaksa,Former Economic Development Minister is actively engaged in organizing a new party. This new party will be formed with the help of ‘Joint Opposition members.
However , he said that he has no intention of becoming the leader of the party. The new party will have the blessings of the Rajapaksa family, he added.
Speculations are in circulation on the possible leadership of the party, with former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name also suggested by political sources. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, however, denied that he will be the leader of the new party.
The party is expected to be formed by the pro-Rajapaksa camp in the United People’s Freedom Alliance. Some SLFP MPs are also expected to join the party. Meanwhile, more local level SLFP politicians have expressed their willingness to join a new party to be formed by the pro-Rajapaksa camp of the UPFA.
