Political shifts

President Maithripala Sirisena in his recent address at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s 65th anniversary celebrations gave the strongest hint yet that the SLFP was poised to break with the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and contest the upcoming local government polls under the party’s traditional ‘hand’ symbol. Could it be that he has finally had enough?

Hinting strongly at party rebels led by his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, President Sirisena said all members of the party must unite to strengthen the SLFP instead of threatening to create new political parties. It is no secret that the President has been seriously affected by the persistent efforts by his party and UPFA members to further the cause of the Rajapaksas and undermine his authority in the thinly-veiled guise of undermining the United National Party (UNP).  

Dressed in the traditional party colour, President Sirisena chaired the SLFP Convention in Maligapitiya Kurunegala on Sunday that was held with much fanfare and drew large crowds. SLFP supporters converged upon Kurunegala from different parts of the island. Traditional drummers, dancers and musical interludes added colour to the proceedings.

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who currently serves as a patron of the SLFP, attended the convention. Several SLFP alliance partners also joined President Sirisena and SLFP leaders on the dais. It seemed to be the perfect surrounding to lay out more clearly the possible direction of the SLFP, especially in the absence of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and members of the UPFA faction calling itself the ‘Joint Opposition’.

Since 2004, the SLFP has been the main constituent of the United People’s Freedom Alliance that traditionally contests elections under the symbol of the betel leaf. However, the UPFA’s smaller constituent parties have been strongly critical of SLFP policies under President Sirisena’s leadership. This faction is led by the former President and includes a large grouping of SLFP members who routinely flout party directives but have so far escaped serious disciplinary action as the president plays a waiting game instead of bringing his detractors in line.

But clearly his patience may be running out as Sirisena emphasised the challenges that were faced by the party and previous leaders repeatedly in his speech. President Sirisena’s address at the convention took an emotional turn when he questioned why a faction of the party was challenging his leadership. He also recalled before his loyalists the turbulent history of the party that saw its founder assassinated and had to regroup time and again to provide a counterbalance to the UNP.

President Sirisena has already stated that local government elections will be rolled out around the country from the end of this year and speculation of a split within the SLFP has been looming larger since then as political enthusiasts wonder whether MP Mahinda Rajapaksa will remain within the SLFP to boost his son’s future or stage a breakout and try his luck with a new party.

The lines within the party have been drawn deeper and deeper during the past few months with President Sirisena consolidating his position with new appointees. Loyalists of the SLFP may have to brace themselves once more as the party tries to find its true north.