• Complains to Party Chair Sirisena over alleged assault, threat 
• Dayasiri pins blame on defectors to Govt.

A group of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members are expecting the Party's Chairman, Opposition Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena to remove MP Dayasiri Jayasekara as the SLFP General Secretary over several matters, including an incident of the latter having allegedly attacked and made death threats to an officer of the Party's Media Unit on Monday (22).

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (23), Pradeep Nanayakkara, who is alleged to have been attacked and threatened by Jayasekara during an event to mark the Republic Day in Colombo on Monday, said that he had lodged a complaint with the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station regarding the incident.

"When we are loyal to Sirisena, Jayasekara does not like it. There have been a series of incidents of him criticising electoral organisers and Party members who are loyal to Sirisena. Once he met us and told us not to work for Sirisena, and instead work for MP Jayasekara. We have informed the Party about it. Since then, he criticises anyone who speaks in favour of Sirisena. The latest incident of his actions is the attack and threat on me," he claimed.

Meanwhile, a senior member of the SLFP, who also represents the Party's Central Committee, when contacted by The Daily Morning, said that many SLFP members were of the view that Sirisena should take steps to remove Jayasekara as the Party's General Secretary. "Jayasekara's behaviour is not suitable for his position. Sirisena is well aware of all these matters. We have not officially requested him to remove Jayasekara, but we expect that he would do it, considering these matters," he said.

When contacted by The Daily Morning, Jayasekara said that the SLFP members who joined the Government, opposing the Party's policies, and expecting Ministerial positions, are attempting to create a conflict between him and Sirisena. "As the General Secretary of the Party, for what reason should I work against the Chairman? I always work to protect him and the Party. All these accusations are made by different individuals who have no loyalty for the Party but only for their political agenda. Behind this are people who have left the Party looking for Ministerial positions," he said.