Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Dinner Party Sparks Drama Among Former MPs

The political landscape continues to heat up as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government intensifies efforts to have former President Mahinda Rajapaksa vacate his official residence. Adding to the drama, the recent arrest and subsequent release on bail of Rajapaksa’s second son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, has also captured public attention.

In the midst of this political turbulence, Mahinda Rajapaksa hosted a lavish dinner party at his official residence on the night of January 27. The event reportedly drew a significant crowd, including 18 former MPs who had distanced themselves from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) during the last election.

Addressing the gathering, Rajapaksa extended a heartfelt invitation to these former MPs to rejoin the party, emphasizing unity and reconciliation. However, the evening took a dramatic turn when Namal Rajapaksa, Mahinda’s eldest son and the SLPP’s national organizer, made a statement that left many attendees unsettled.

"My father kept the doors of the saloon open at all times—anyone could come and go as they pleased. But I have closed the saloon door. Those who left cannot come and go as they wish anymore," Namal reportedly said, casting a shadow over his father’s conciliatory gesture.

Meanwhile, sources reveal that Mahinda Rajapaksa is planning a Pirith chanting ceremony at his residence in the near future, seeking blessings amid the mounting challenges he faces.

The dinner party, which began on a note of camaraderie, has now left many former MPs questioning their place in the SLPP, as internal tensions within the party bubble to the surface.