DHAKA: Sri Lanka’s former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has agreed to step down as head of his party, clearing the way for the country’s new president to take full control.

An aide said on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.

President Maithripala Sirisena had been the general secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), but was kicked out of the party ahead of elections after he broke away from Rajapaksa in November to become the common opposition candidate.

Sirisena, who toppled the long-time strongman in last week’s polls, claimed the party leadership following the vote, but Rajapaksa’s loyalists initially refused to back him, threatening to split the party.

‘He (Rajapakse) met with president Sirisena on Wednesday night and discussed the future of the SLFP,’ the aide told the media. ‘It was decided that at a (policy making) central committee meeting on Friday, Mr. Sirisena will be confirmed as the new leader of the party.’

Sirisena’s election bid was backed by a coalition of opposition parties after he defected from the Rajapaksa government while serving as health minister to run for president.

Party sources said his expulsion from the SLFP, however, had never been ratified.

BDST: 1821 HRS, JAN 15, 2015