President should contest for second term: SLFP

• But final decision to be taken only after meeting with SLPP 
• Disciplinary action on members supporting other political parties also mulled
• SLFP happy about Gota being an independent candidate

By Ruwandi Gamage

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday said the party had not moved away from its stance that President Maithripala Sirisena should contest for a second term.  

Speaking to reporters at the Party Headquarters, Jayasekera said the party remained stoic in its belief that President Sirisena should be the SLFP candidate at the upcoming Presidential Elections. However, he acknowledged that no final decision had been taken on the matter and a conclusion would only be arrived at after talks with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).    

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera  - Pic by Chamila Karunarathne

Jayasekera also warned that they would consider taking disciplinary action against MPs who had abandoned duties to the SLFP by joining other political parties and through gaining their membership.

Stating that they would hold final discussions before carrying out disciplinary hearings, the SLFP General Secretary Jayasekera indirectly referred to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and spoke of how this step could be taken in order to strengthen the party’s unity and membership.

“We have strengthened the Disciplinary Committee and have taken the decision that it is time we take action against those who have abandoned the party, especially those who were committee members or party organisers. There was a special request at the Central Committee meeting that action be taken against members who have taken up membership in the United National Party (UNP) and members who have taken up membership in other parties. We have decided to have a final discussion with the concerning members, and if they do not want to achieve a consensus, we will take disciplinary action against them,” he stated.

Jayasekara also outlined plans to hold 22 district conferences across the country beginning from 3 September and continuing throughout the month. The first conference will be held in Galle with the attendance of President Maithripala Sirisena, where a party policy statement drafted with a view that will suit the 21st century will be presented.

“We are hoping to put out policies that cannot be changed as governments change, to bring continuity to developments in the country that will benefit the public,”

The General Secretary said they had held lengthy discussions with Basil Rajapaksa’s team about how an alliance would go about if that was part of the SLFP’s plans and that talks were being held in a positive light, although they had not reached any consensus regarding an alliance yet. Jayasekera said that they would take a decision that would aid the SLFP in its political stand if the party and its members were respected and protected.

“Half of our SLFPers are in the SLPP. In order to take our plans forward, we need to discuss with them and come to a decision about the upcoming elections. We as a party are happy about Gotabaya Rajapaksa as he is not a member of any party and he is an independent candidate. This upcoming Presidential Election should not be about selecting a party leader, it is about choosing a national leader. We must be vigilant about that,” he added.

Adding that talks between President Maithripala Sirisena and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa would commence once the district conferences kick off, Jayasekera explained that first on the party’s agenda was strengthening its membership before coming to decisions about a presidential candidate or alliances for the elections.