MS betrayed SLFP’s philosophies says MR

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Upon returning to Sri Lanka from Malaysia, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday charged that President Maithripala Sirisena had “betrayed” the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) strategies by co-governing with the United National Party (UNP) and extending the agreement.

Responding to Sirisena’s request to gather around the SLFP to strengthen the party’s roots, Rajapaksa said that as long as the SLFP followed the instructions of the UNP, the party could not be strengthened.

“S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike left the UNP and created the SLFP with the thought of not rejoining the UNP. The UNP and SLFP political ideologies have a huge gap that cannot be bridged,” he said.

Rajapaksa added that if someone wanted to boost the SLFP they should leave the UNP-SLFP Unity Government.

“We have adopted the UNP’s strategies, but the UNP has not reciprocated,” he charged.

A delegation led by Rajapaksa left for Malaysia last Thursday to attend the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and skipped the SLFP’s 65th convention held on Sunday in Kurunegala at the Maligapitiya Ground.