Some members of the SLFP Working Committee (WC) staged a walkout protesting against being kept in the dark about the new appointments to the party hierarchy, at yesterday’s Central Committee meeting.

After the new appointments were approved with President Maithripala Sirisena in the chair as SLFP leader, the WC members raised issue over them being sidelined from the process of appointing office bearers.

After President Sirisena left the ‘Janakala Kendaraya’ at Battaramulla, where the event was held, the WC activists walked out and protested outside the premises.

They jeered at Anura Priyadharsana Yapa, who bounced back as the SLFP General Secretary and some other SLFP members who joined the common candidate during the presidential poll, while they were leaving the premises after the meeting.

However, no incidents were reported as the protesters dispersed after giving vent to their frustration over being marginalized.

A decision was also taken to amend the party constitution.

The new appointments, as adopted by the central committee are as follows: Susil Premjayantha, MP — National Organizer, Anura Priyadharsana Yapa, MP, – General Secretary. (unchanged) and S. B.Nawinna, MP, – Treasurer. 

Former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, D. M .Jayaratne and senior member Alavi Maulana were appointed as advisors.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva and WDJ Seneviratne were appointed senior vice Presidents of the party while Rajitha Seneviratne, S. B. Dissanayake, Piyasena Gamage and MKDS Gunawardane were appointed Vice Presidents.

Courtesy:The Island