Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Senior Deputy Chairman Mahinda Amaraweera stated that the party, which was handed over to former Chairman Maithripala Sirisena with 142 MPs, has been reduced to just two MPs.
Amaraweera mentioned that due to the party’s deterioration under Sirisena’s leadership, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had to take legal action against him. He made these comments at an event held in Tissamaharama on Monday (17) where young entrepreneurs were provided with free chicks as part of a youth agricultural entrepreneurship village project run by the Hadabima Authority.
Amaraweera further elaborated, stating, “The SLFP is now in our hands. The ineffective elements are no longer part of our party. Under the former chairman’s tenure, the SLFP was broken into pieces, and party supporters had no faith in us. The SLFP, which we handed over to former Chairman Sirisena with 142 MPs, ended up with just two MPs. Former President Kumaratunga initiated legal actions against Sirisena because she couldn’t stand to see the party being destroyed.”
He addressed concerns about the leadership of the SLFP, affirming, “Some say the SLFP has too many leaders. In reality, the SLFP has only one leader, legally appointed and that is Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. We always act according to the law and never engage in illegal activities. This is why no one from the former chairman’s faction has filed lawsuits against our appointments. The SLFP is now legally under our control.”
Amaraweera also announced plans for a major public rally of the new alliance in Wellawaya on June 29 expecting a large turnout of supporters. He hinted at potential surprises, saying, “Many unexpected things might happen that day.The next President will definitely be from our alliance, not from any other coalition and will be the leader we support.”
Buddhika Imbulana
