Sirisena to contest 2020 Presidential elections: Duminda

• Claims will be President till 2025
• SLFP Central Committee to take a decision on errant SLFPers who support other political parties 

President Maithripala Sirisena would be contesting the 2020 Presidential elections, a senior SLFP Minister revealed yesterday. 

Irrigation, Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Duminda Dissanayake told the Daily FT that President Sirisena would definitely contest the next Presidential election. “President Sirisena will most definitely contest the upcoming Presidential election. We will reveal our strategy at a later date.” He said that President Sirisena is expected to be President till 2025. 

Furthermore, Minister Dissanayake said that the issue of SLFP members supporting other political parties would be discussed at the next Central Committee meeting. 

“The matter of SLFP members supporting and canvassing for other political parties, such as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), will be addressed at the next Central Committee meeting. We will decide on a firm stance on this matter,” he said. 

Soon after the ‘Janabalaya Kolambata’ protest organised by the Joint Opposition and the SLPP earlier this month, Minister Dissanayake told the Daily FT that disciplinary action should be taken against the SLFPers who took part in the protest. 

“According to the Constitution of our Party, promoting another Party, aiding or helping another Party is not allowed. Those who engage in such action can be expelled from the Party,” Dissanayake told Daily FT.

However, he claimed that the Party did not take ‘harsh decisions’ against the group with intention of reuniting the Party.

“But we cannot hold them back if they really want to break away. They have been appearing for the new Party, and then they took part in the rally. So, now we have to understand that they are no longer members of SLFP,” he claimed.

The next SLFP Central Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow.