• Party's divide has led to uncertainty over which internal group's submissions will be recognised in nominations 

The Election Commission (EC) stated that if the crisis situation within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continues, there may be a problematic situation in issuing nominations for SLFP members in the upcoming Elections.

With an interim injunction being issued by the Colombo District Court (DC) preventing former President and incumbent Opposition Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the Party Chairperson, a problematic situation has arisen within the SLFP.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that if this crisis situation continues, a problematic situation may arise in granting nominations for members of the Party in the upcoming Elections. "Currently, there are two factions in the Party. They have made appointments for the positions of the Party separately. There are certain issues in the Party's constitution too. In the case of granting nominations, there may be a problematic situation as to the submissions of which faction should we accept."

In response to a complaint lodged by SLFP Patron and former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Colombo DC issued an interim injunction, temporarily restraining Sirisena from acting as the SLFP Chairperson. This development resulted in the division of the SLFP into two groups, one led by Kumaratunga and the other by Sirisena. Subsequently, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, in his capacity as the Party's Senior Vice President, convened the SLFP's Politburo meeting, during which he was appointed as the Party's Acting Chairperson. In a fresh twist, the faction led by Sirisena, on 21 April, elected Minister, President's Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the Party's Acting Chairperson.

The EC recently stated that it was set to engage in further discussions with both the factions of the SLFP before making a determination on the legality of the recent changes within the Party, which include the appointment of de Silva, as its’ Acting Chairperson.