President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday sacked nine loyalists of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in a major reshuffle that would likely mute any opposition from within the country’s unity government.
The purge effected by Mr. Sirisena claimed the posts of nine frontline backers of Mr. Rajapaksa as SLFP organisers.
He appointed new electoral and district organisers during a meeting held at the President’s official residence in Colombo, party officials said.
The move is expected to consolidate his influence over the party. Both Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Rajapaksa have been longtime members of the party, but since the former President was booted out of office in 2015, a rivalry has been renewed between the two.
Mr. Sirisena succeeded Mr. Rajapaksa as leader of SLFP after he unexpectedly beat the latter in the January 2015 election.
Before the election, Mr. Sirisena was Mr. Rajapaksa’s Health Minister. He challenged Mr. Rajapaksa in the snap election called by the former strongman with support from then opposition United National Party (UNP).
Since winning the presidency, Mr. Sirisena and the UNP of the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe banded together to form a unity government.
However, Mr. Rajapaksa loyalists were believed to have formed opposition to the government with support from a section of SLFP members.
The Rajapaksa faction have carried out several campaigns against the Sirisena government including last month’s five-day protest march.
Mr. Sirisena has accused the Mr. Rajapaksa clan of trying to divide and weaken the SLFP.
The action to remove Rajapaksa backers is being seen as a move by Mr. Sirisena to consolidate his position as the party leader ahead of next month’s 65th anniversary convention of the party.
