SLFP unwavering on co-leadership for alliance

• SLFP insists on co-leadership in SLFP-SLPP coalition 
• No official decision on alliance symbol yet
• Says language of national anthem should not be politicised
• No official date yet for coalition talks to commence

By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday said they would not budge on wanting their party to play an equal role to that of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in the proposed alliance to contest the upcoming General Election, saying the issue will be discussed as coalition talks progress in the future.

In addition to this, a suitable role within the Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Peramuna for SLFP Chairman and former President Maithripala Sirisena will also be discussed, SLFP media spokesperson Weerakumara Dissanayake said. He added that discussions on the alliance symbol are still underway. 

SLFP media spokesperson Weerakumara Dissanayake

Last week SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera said the SLFP wants to see former President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as co-leaders of the coalition between the SLFP and SLPP. 

However, Prof. G.L. Peiris on Monday said the SLPP would only contest under Prime Minister Rajapaksa and no one else. When questioned by reporters on this remark Dissanayake responded that was merely an opinion of an individual and that: “If there is any disrespect towards the SLFP, it will a detriment the other parties in the alliance as well.” He also commented on the call for a two-thirds majority in Parliament that would allow for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, saying there was a misconception that the need for the repeal was due to conflict between the President and Prime Minister. “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have no problems with governing the country but this could pose an issue to future leaders and this is the time to make this change,” he said, adding that the amendment posed challenges during the previous Government, when Maithripala Sirisena was President.

Regarding Sirisena’s noticeable absence from Tuesday’s Independence Day celebrations, Dissanayake said that Sirisena had informed them he would not be partaking in the celebrations and was in Polonnaruwa that day.

Addressing criticism over the President’s decision to have the national anthem sung in Sinhala only, Dissanayake said the matter should not be politicised.

“Even in India, a country often used as an example, the national anthem is sung in one language. Most countries in the world do not have the national anthem in multiple languages,” he went on to say, adding that the last three governments have made Tamil language a priority in their initiatives.

Regarding Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan’s comments on the matter, Dissanayake said: “Sampanthan looks at language in a tribal way but we look at language as a way to create good relations between Tamil, Muslim, and Sinhala communities in our country.”

He added that the likes of Sampanthan should instead focus their energy on encouraging Tamil people to join in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s initiatives.