"Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained the membership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), at his official residence, Wijerama road, Colombo, a short while ago," Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper reported.

As per Colombo Gazette report,  Rajapaksa’s son Namal Rajapaksa and several other SLFP members also joined the SLPP.

The move was made ahead of the general election on Jan 5.

With the movie, Rajapaksa ended his 50-year association with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s party.

Sirisena dissolved the Parliament on Friday 

Sri Lanka is passing through a political crisis since late October.

Last month, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier.

He took oath as the new premier of the country on Oct 26.

Relations between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe's political parties, who have governed in coalition since 2015, received setback since both suffered humiliating losses in February's local council elections.

According to reports, they have clashed in cabinet last week over government plans to lease a container terminal to neighbouring India.