No SLFP heavyweights at Medamulana; Sarath Silva makes appearance

A surprise guest at the Medamulana event yesterday was former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, who recently made a U-turn on his support for President Sirisena and said the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister was not constitutional. 
Several party leaders including Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunewardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitharana and Udaya Gammanpila flanked the former President as he made his announcement on a small stage constructed in the garden, featuring a podium and a teleprompter. 
UPFA MPs, Keheliya Rambukwella, T.B. Ekanayake, Salinda Dissanayake, Tissa Karaliyadda, Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Duminda Silva, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Chandima Weerakoddy, Kumara Welgama, Manusha Nanayakkara, Vidura Wickremanayake and several others who have openly backed the former President within the SLFP were present yesterday. Despite speculation, none of the SLFP heavyweights turned up on stage during the event. SLFP seniors Nimal Siripala De Silva, Susil Premajayantha and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stayed away from the theatrics down South.
Scores of jeeps and cars transported high profile loyalists of the former President’s campaign to the southern village, creating massive traffic congestion on the narrow roads and on the Southern Expressway. 
Dozens of buses travelling from Ratnapura, Divulapitiya, Piliyandala and other far off regions, made their way on the expressway towards the Rajapaksa stronghold carrying thousands of supporters.