Former North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake who is contesting once again as the chief ministerial hopeful is facing an elimination operation from within his party initiated by the President and several SLFPers, party sources said.

The President has therefore backed Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s brother who is also contesting the North Central Provincial Council election. Chandrasena has commenced a mud slinging campaign against Dissanayake though his brother’s campaign. Also, the SLFP head of Rajarata, Minister Maithripala Sirisena is openly working against Dissanayake.

It is learnt that this operation has started after hearing that Dissanayake’s eldest son, Deputy Youth Affairs Minister Duminda Dissanayake has a Raja Yoga (planetary positions to become king). Duminda Dissanayake is also Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne’s son-in-law.

Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has completely cast aside Duminda in all ministry work. Work at the Youth Services Council is being carried out by MP Namal Rajapaksa’s friend, Attorney Lalith Piyum Perera.

The head of the Youth Services Council is Duminda Dissanayake, but he is being ignored and work in the Council is being carried out under Namal Rajapaksa’s directions.

A senior government member has asked the state media not to give prominence to Berty Dissanayake in the run up to the elections. Dissanayake has to now resort to the state media for publicity.

Berty Dissanayake has told a private media institution that he would win and become the next Chief Minster of the North Central Province regardless of the challenges he would have to face.