At a recent meeting of the telephone party’s Diyawanna group, several members had referred to the growing public resentment against the party chief for his continued languid attitude towards the regime in power.

They had pointed out that if the Telephone party continued to fail to capitalize on the growing disaffection amongst the masses about the government and failed any longer to embark on a vigorous plan of action to take on the regime, there was the obvious possibility of one section of their members and supporters breaking away to throw in their lot with the Green party and another section to join forces with the Bell party.

Meanwhile, some others had suggested that the aggressive lanky party stalwart elected from the Colombo district be invited to be the party chief’s main lieutenant. However, some others had pointed out that the ‘iron man’ from the Colombo district  had already clearly indicated that he was not ready to play the second fiddle to the party chief.

The party’s Diyawanna members from Bandarawela, Ratnapura, Gampaha and Kalutara had been among those vociferous at this group meeting, they say.