Will prepare SLFP to defeat unpatriotic forces: President

• President pledges to strengthen SLFP in three months 
• Says focus should not just be on defeating political parties or politicians but unpatriotic forces 
• Asserts responsibility to protect SL lies with SLFP, calls on public to support him
• New district organising offices as part of SLFP restructuring process   

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that in the next three months, he plans to strengthen the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) not just to defeat its political opponents but also to defeat all unpatriotic forces that are against Sri Lanka. 

Speaking at the opening of a new SLFP office in Colombo, President Sirisena has said that it was important to understand which forces were against the best interests of Sri Lanka. The district office opening in Colombo, with the support of SLFP Colombo Organiser MP Thilanga Sumathipala, is the first of offices to be opened countrywide.  

“We should not be talking about defeating political parties or political leaders, but rather about accurately identifying unpatriotic forces that are working against the people and Sri Lanka and defeating them,” he said at a ceremony organised to mark the opening of the new district office. 

“In every political party there is a group that loves the country and is loyal to the party and a group that is the opposite. In moving forward to work for and protect the interests of the public and the country, it is important to identify these people and give them the opportunity to lead,” he added. 

President Sirisena had also pointed out that 2019 was not just an election year but also a year to form a new government for Sri Lanka. Therefore he had emphasised that it is the responsibility of everybody to prepare the SLFP, which is a people-oriented, patriotic party, to meet this challenge. The President had called on the public to extend its fullest support to accomplish that responsibility.

The new office has been established at No. 65, Ananda Rajakaruna road, Colombo 10 as part of establishing new district offices of the party across the country under the restructuring process of the SLFP.