SLFP Chief Ministers boycott Jana Satana march

Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal (third from left) speaking to the media. Chief Ministers Mahipala Herath (left) and Isuru Devapriya (second from left) and North Central Province Chief Minister Peshala Jayarathna (right) are also present 

– Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Ahead of the Joint Opposition Jana Satana Pada Yathra today, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)’s seven Local Government Chief Ministers yesterday said none of them would participate in the march.

Addressing a hurriedly-convened media conference at SLFP headquarters, Sabaragamuwa Province Chief Minister Mahipala Herath said even SLFP members had democracy for peaceful assembly but it should be done under the approval of party’s Central Committee.  

“Real SLFPers will not violate the procedures of the party and they will only behave within its framework of discipline. Therefore senior members like me will not take part in such a march,” he said.

When reporters questioned why he would not advice his son SLFP MP Kanaka Herath, who is a frontline activist in Joint Opposition, to boycott the march, Herath said his and his son’s political ideologies were different. 

Condemning the march further Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal claimed if any SLFPers participated in the Jana Satana march at any point they could be branded as “traitors”.

“SLFP MPs representing the Joint Opposition have already promised President Maithripala Sirisena that they would not back attempts to split the party into pieces. Then attending a ‘Pada Yathra’ would be a betrayal of the party,” he charged. 

Wijayalal also rejected claims that the SLFP and the United National Party (UNP) were concerned about the impact made by the march, which is due to begin in Kandy on Thursday and reach Colombo next week. He also dismissed claims that the UNP had pressured the Chief Ministers to refrain from attending the march. “We do not have any fear. The march will not be a challenge to the SLFP.” 

Meanwhile, Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya alleged if the Joint Opposition wanted to establish a SLFP Government, they must gather around President Sirisena instead of standing as a separate group. 

“We believe that we cannot win the next LG election with the ‘defeated face’ of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Wining is only possible under the leadership of President Sirisena,” he stated.

Court orders Jana Satana to be held outside Kandy town

The Kandy Magistrate yesterday ordered the Joint Opposition to commence their Jana Satana Paada Yathrawa outside the Kandy town. The Magistrate also ordered the United National Party (UNP) to hold its membership promotion program scheduled to start from 9:30 a.m. in Kandy city only until 2 p.m.

The Kandy Chief Magistrate also issued a restraining order against four Joint Opposition MPs so they could not participate in the march within the Kandy city limits. 

The order was issued on MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dilum Amunugama, Keheliya Rambukwella, and Lohan Ratwatte. 

In addition the Mawanella Magistrate also ordered the Joint Opposition to use alternative routes for their protest march, bypassing Mawanella town.

However, the Joint Opposition said since the Court order has been issued against those MPs, the rest of the group would first pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic before taking part in the march. Sources said the Kandy Magistrate issued the order following a complaint lodged by Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella.

The Joint Opposition was expected to start the march in front of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy today at around 9:30 a.m. and it was to travel through Mawanella, Nelumdeniya, Nittambuwa and Kiribathgoda towns on its first two days. It hopes to reach Colombo at around 3 p.m. on 1 August.