SLFP reiterates call for multi-party Government

Saturday, 18 June 2022 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLFP Leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena speaking to journalists yesterday, whilst SLFP General Secretary looks on

Former President Sirisena says people have no confidence in current Govt.
Laments no coordination between President and PM
Insists multi-party will instil confidence and help speedily overcome current problems
Says a new Govt. should work within set time frame before going for an election

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday reiterated its call for the setting up for a multi-party Government saying the administration led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot find solutions to the current problems in the country.

“Many ask if a new Government can change the current situation for the better. I can say that if a Government is set up according to our proposal then these problems can be overcome in a very short period. Many in the international assistance will come forward to assist us if this is done,” SLFP Leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena said.

Sirisena said he has held talks with many experts and those in the international community and they agree that a multi-party Government with a Cabinet for about 15 and with a fixed timeframe within which to hold elections, then we can address these problems speedily.

He added that the current Government does not have the confidence of the people while the international community also does not have faith in the current leaders who have held power for the past two and half years.

“When the pandemic situation was at its height, I said that a multi-party Government should be set up. That was about a year ago. Then about three months ago our party once again made the same proposal as decided by our Party’s central committee, but the President rejected it,” Sirisena told reporters at a press conference.

He added that a situation similar to the one that existed when he was the President and Ranil Wickremasinghe was Prime Minister is happening once again.

“The President holds separate meetings and appoints committees. The Prime Minister does the same. It is clear to see that there is no coordination between the two,” Sirisena said.

He said the SLPP has broken into two or three now and all parties are having internal problems and hence the President must take form a multi-party Government.