 He was backed by the former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, UNP and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Jathika Hela Urumaya as well as Sarath Fonseka.In his speech he promised to end Thuggery, embezzlement, crime, drug mafia, nepotism and corruption.The largest Muslim party of Sri Lanka also left the government and joined Maithripala

In 2015 Sri Lankan presidential election in January Maithripala won the election with 51.28% of the votes and took oath as president.