Thilanga Sumathipala and Mahinda Amaraweera have both submitted their resignations as the General Secretary of the UPFA today (Feb. 01), reports say.

Chairman of the UPFA Maithripala Sirisena has urged them both to do so, with the objective of avoiding any dispute arising with regard to the position when the UPFA’s name is used for forming a new political alliance.

Mr. Sirisena replaced Mr. Amaraweera with Mr. Sumathipala as the party General Secretary after Mr. Amaraweera went against the party political line and joined the government as a cabinet minister.

Subsequently, Amaraweera sought redress in courts but the Elections Commission had refused to recognize either in the position.