Minister of Rural Economic Affairs S.B. Dissanayake says that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would suffer an absolute defeat if former President Mahinda Rajapaksa contests the upcoming General Election.

Responding to a query from a journalist at a press conference held at SLFP Headquarters in Colombo today, he stated that the party would especially lose the minority votes if Rajapaksa contests the polls.

Therefore, Dissanayake said, that according to his calculations, if Mahinda Rajapaksa enters the election the SLFP would suffer an absolute defeat.

While emphasizing that the former President’s support it necessary for the victory of the party, the minister reminded that Rajapaksa had declared he would not let the party to split. President Maithripala Sirisena will also not allow for the party to split, he said.

The Kandy District UPFA MP pointed out that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had yesterday questioned in Parliament as to why the electoral system was not amended under the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa which possessed a two-thirds majority.

Dissanayake said that the former President had no interest in introducing such electoral reforms.

He stated that the eradication of racism, communalism, religionism and purchase of MPs was expected from the 20th amendment to the constitution.

However, he stated that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had put forward proposals regarding a dual ballot paper system and that it was not very suitable.

The Minister further said that the people dislike the increase of Ministers more than they dislike the increase of MPs and therefore it is appropriate to increase the number of MPs to 225.