First meeting of Maitripala Sirisena

Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena, MP, yesterday declared that there would be a series of defections from UPFA ranks to his side in the coming days. Former SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena was addressing his first campaign rally at Polonnaruwa. MP Sirisena said that President Rajapaksa couldn't stop those defections. UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and Chairman of UNP Leadership Council Karu Jayasuriya were among those who joined the Opposition candidate on stage. MP Sirisena said that the SLFP polls campaign had suffered a severe setback due to his exit.