CBK accuses President of arbitrary action in supporting GR

• Chandrika sends strongly-worded letter to Sirisena
• Says decision to support GR taken without consulting office bearers
• Accuses MR of systematically destroying SLFP

Former President Chan-drika Bandaranaike Kuma-ratunga yesterday accused President Maithripala Sirisena of acting arbitrarily by deciding to support the SLPP candidate in the upcoming Presidential Election and keeping her out of the SLFP’s decision-making process.

In a strongly worded letter sent to the President, Kumaratunga said that the decision to support Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been made without consulting party office bearers.

“I had expressed my reservations from last year about forming an alliance with the SLPP and gave reasons for it. Instead of giving me an opportunity to explain my reasons, an arbitrary action which is in violation of the SLFP’s Constitution and conventions was taken and an agreement was entered into with the SLPP,” she said.

Kumaratunga said that the SLFP’s Executive Committee nor the All Ceylon Working Committee have been officially of this decision so far.

“You are aware that (former President) Mahinda Rajapaksa set about systematically destroying the SLFP after he took over as chairman of the party. Now he has created a new party against the SLFP and taken over its leadership. However the SLFP has not initiated any disciplinary action against nor have you issued a statement against this move,” she said.

Hence my decision to support NDF candidate Sajith Premadasa is in no way harmful to the party, she added.