More than half of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party's local government members have left to back incumbent Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential polls.

Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila, who had earlier announced his support for Rajapaksa last week, was joined by 17 of 29 local government members who defected to the ruling UPFA coalition.

Gammanpila said that a new party with the defectors would be formed, adding,

"Our party is founded on policies that are our foundation. We have suddenly strayed towards an alliance with the United National Party and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. There is a void in society for a Buddhist political party."

"We will also discuss with the Bodu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya. We have had discussions with leaders of Buddhist organizations, and so far the reactions have been positive," continued Gammanpila.

Member of the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha Yagoda Seevali Thera said those that left the JHU for Rajapaksa were representative of the people in Sri Lanka. "Rajapaksa won the war and gifted people peace. Rajapaksa too has his faults but we see no other better candidate,” he said. “The true cream of the JHU including divisional and electorate level organizers are with Gammanpila."

See our earlier posts:

Senior JHU official joins Mahinda camp (11 Dec 2014)

Sirisena and JHU rally against war crimes probe (03 Dec 2014)

Maithripala signs MoU with JHU (01 Dec 2014)

Presidential candidate Sirisena signs MoU with opposition parties (01 Dec 2014)

JHU to sign MoU with Maithripala (29 Nov 2014)

I will protect Rajapaksas from war crime charges – Maithripala (28 Nov 2014)

Maithripala invited us for talks – BBS (24 Nov 2014)

Who is Maithripala Sirisena? (23 Nov 2014)

JHU quits ruling alliance, calls on Rajapaksa to follow 'teachings of Buddha' (18 Nov 2014)