SLFP to decide on timeline to cross over to Opposition

• President Sirisena points out SLFP continuing in Government was damaging the Party
• Central Committee to decide on cross over after party convention on September 2
• New office bearers to be appointed on June 3
• New local level restructuring of SLFP to be carried out before August 20

 By Skandha Gunasekara

President Maithripala Sirisena during yesterday’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Central Committee meeting had noted that continuing in the Government was damaging the image of the Party and requested the Committee for a timeline on when remaining SLFPers would sit in the Opposition.

SLFP Central Committee member MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana told the Daily FT that President Sirisena, in his capacity as the Chairman of the SLFP, had called on the Central Committee to propose when they would cross over to the Opposition in Parliament.

“The President pointed out that the SLFP staying in the Government was hurting the Party and its image and that it would be in the best interest of the Party to sit in the Opposition. He told us to take a decision on the matter,” MP Abeywardana said adding that the Central Committee decision would be taken after the SLFP annual convention on September 2. 

The MP went on to say that it had been decided that President Sirisena would appoint new new office bearers to the SLFP would be appointed on June 3. 

“All office bearers, including the General Secretary will be newly appointed in June,” MP Abeywardana said while observing that restructuring of office bearers at the local level would take place before August 20.

The Central Committee would meet once again after August 20.