Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday stepped down as head of his party to avoid divisions following a surprise upset in this month's elections, according to dpa. "With effect from today, I will be handing over the leadership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to President Maithripala Sirisena," the ex-president said in a statement. "I am taking this decision as I have a great dislike to see the SLFP face the danger of division," Rajapaksa said. Former health minister Sirisena defected to run against Rajapaksa in the January 8 polls, which he won by around 51.3 per cent to the incumbent's 47.6 per cent. Sirisena, who is supported by a range of opposition parties and several fellow defectors from the SLFP, has called on lawmakers from the ruling party to support him, to control the 225-seat parliament. Rajapaksa's Friday statement indicated Sirisena was considered a member of the party again. Sirisena at the weekend appointed opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and named a 27-member cabinet. Parliament was to reconvene on Monday.
