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PM wants SLFP to be strengthened: Duminda Dissanayake

19 Jan 2022

  • Shehan Semasinghe tells Sirisena to quit Govt., join Opposition 
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Government constituent partner, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) National Organiser, and State Minister of Solar Power, Wind, and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development Duminda Dissanayake stated that Prime Minister and SLFP Adviser Mahinda Rajapaksa had requested him to take steps to strengthen the SLFP. He said that the Premier had made this request when the former recently went to meet Rajapaksa to wish the latter for the new year, along with State Minister of Batik, Handloom, and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekara and State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna. “When I went to wish him for the new year, Rajapaksa asked me to strengthen the SLFP, saying that he is also a SLFPer. According to the SLFP’s Constitution, all former Presidents who represented the SLFP are officially appointed as Advisors to the SLFP. Therefore, our party will always have their guidance,” said Dissanayake. He further stated that the aim of the SLFP, like all other political parties, is to bring to power a Government led by the SLFP. “The SLFP has a responsibility. What is it? If a wrong decision is taken by the Government, the SLFP will speak out to correct such decisions, both inside and outside. It does not matter how many SLFP Parliamentarians are there.” He was speaking to the media at a SLFP convention in Hambantota last weekend. The SLFP recently denied media reports that it has taken a decision to leave the current Sri Lanka Freedom People’s Alliance (SLFPA) Government led by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), but SLFP Senior Vice President Emeritus Prof. Rohana Luxman Piyadasa told The Morning last week that the party will definitely contest any future election separately. Furthermore, SLFP Chairman and incumbent Government MP Maithripala Sirisena and a number of other ministers and MPs of the SLFP are currently seen criticising certain policies of the present Government. In response to such criticisms, SLPP politicians are seen asking the SLFP to leave if they are unable to stay with the Government. Meanwhile, speaking to the media yesterday (18), State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment, and Business Development Shehan Semasinghe claimed that Sirisena is now criticising the Government as if the latter has suddenly woken up, adding that it is seen that he is fulfilling the expectations of the Opposition whilst being within the Government. “Sirisena is making statements as if he has suddenly woken up. If he is so unhappy with being with the Government, we see that it would be more appropriate for him to leave the Government and join the Opposition and carry out the role of the Opposition that he is doing now.” Claiming that the failure to expedite the investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 21 April 2019 was an allegation against the present Government, Semasinghe said that the said allegation has been pointed at the Government due to the fact that Sirisena is a partner in the Government.


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