A strong show of unity was evidenced at a special meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) Executive Committee and National Working Committees held yesterday (Saturday) at ‘Ape Gama’ Battaramulla. In addition to key appointments of office bearers and the setting up of a National Advisory Council (Anushasaka Sabhawa), the party reaffirmed support for newly elected President Maithreepala Sirisena.
While the party unanimously elected Anura Priyadarshana Yapa as General Secretary, Kurunegala District MP S.B. Nawinna was appointed party Treasurer. Susil Premajayantha was appointed as the party’s National Organizer, a post that had been left vacant after the resignation of Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa.
Health Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne was selected as the party’s new Vice President.
The National Advisory Council comprises of former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former Prime Ministers D.M. Jayaratne and Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and two others to be appointed by the party’s leader.
President Sirisena, in his address said that the political culture of violence that is marked by hatred and violence needs to change and pledged that the SLFP will spare no efforts towards this.
Acknowledging the complexity of the current political moment and observing that the country was without a leader from the SLFP only for one week, he promised to lead the party to victory at the next general election predicting the formation of a coalition government led by his party.
Meanwhile, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in effect squashing rumors about forming a new political alliance to contest the general election, extended his best wishes and support in a special statement read out at the meeting.
Rajapaksa insisted that he would do nothing that could cause division in the SLFP.
The party finally decided unanimously not to extend any support to those planning to hold a rally on February 18 against the government. An otherwise peaceful meeting ended on a sour note when some disgruntled elements of the party turning on certain members who had defected from the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government to support Maithripala Sirisena during the presidential election.
Kotikawatta, Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha member Prasanna Solangarachchi was subjected to a water bottle attack while Western Provincial Councilor Hirunika Premachandra was briefly prevented from leaving the venue after some SLFP members obstructed the path of her vehicle. Ministers M.K.D.S. Gunawardana and Duminda Dissanayake meanwhile, reportedly had to be ushered through the backdoor by security.
Courtesy:The Nation