Fissures in the SLFP surfaced yesterday when seven SLFP organisers openly criticised President Maithripala Sirisena’s attempt to create a political alliance with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) or Pohottuwa.
Several SLFP organisers including G. H. Buddhadasa (Kaduwela), Rajika Kodithuwakku (Kesbewa), M M Amjad (Beruwala), Bandara Athukorala (Kegalle), Nimanthi Peiris (Horana) and Thushara Ranga (Maharagama) holding a press conference at the Public Library in Colombo expressed their opposition to the President’s recent decision to join hands with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaking at a press conference with pictures of SLFP Founder and former Prime Minister late SWRD Bandaranaike, former Prime Minister late Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Maithripala Sirisena in the background, the SLFP organisers were vocal that the SLFP was at an all-time low and needs to be rescued.
They claimed that another 23 SLFP organizers would join hands with their movement in another couple of days, and that they have the backing of a group of SLFP MPs and Governors. However, when questioned by the media, they denied the claim that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was behind them.
“The President with his recent actions turned his back to the people who voted for him on January 8, 2015. The President should have inquired the position of the SLFP Executive Committee before pulling out the SLFP from the national government. He cannot take arbitrary decisions. We urge the President to correct the path he is taking the SLFP on,” M.M.Amjad said.
“Today, the SLFP stands even below Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front. I will not leave the SLFP at any cost. However, we give support to any force that goes against the groups which led to the downfall of the SLFP. We will strive to form an SLFP Government in 2025,” said G.H. Buddhadasa.
“Our group could still be a minority in the SLFP, but we strive to make it the majority by gradually spreading our message. This is only the start,” said Rajika Kodithuwakku.
Responding to questions by journalists, Kodithuwakku said the fact that former President Rajapaksa and his fellow MPs obtained SLPP membership could not be hidden, and that it was naïve to utter lies to deny it now for the sake of saving their Parliamentary seats.
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