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SJB, SLFP yet to initiate disciplinary action against MPs

23 May 2022

  • Both parties say necessary action will be taken in future
By Buddhika Samaraweera Both the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are looking to take disciplinary action against the MPs representing the said parties who took over ministerial posts last week, contravening the respective parties’ decisions, but work on the same has not yet begun. When queried about SJB MP and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella’s statement that the SJB intended to take disciplinary action against MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara, who took over ministerial posts, SJB National Organiser and MP Tissa Attanayake said that taking disciplinary action against an MP is not something that can be done immediately.  “Disciplinary action is not something that can be completed at once. The party has announced it would take disciplinary action against these two MPs, but there are a number of steps that need to be taken in this regard. It will be done in the future,” he said.  Meanwhile, when asked whether disciplinary action would be taken against SLFP Senior Vice President Nimal Siripala de Silva, who also took over a ministerial post last week, SLFP Senior Vice President Prof. Rohana Luxman Piyadasa told The Morning that disciplinary action would be taken against de Silva in the future. He said: “Any political party usually takes disciplinary action against MPs who work contrary to the party’s decision. So, what has happened in this case is that a member of the SLFP has acted against the party’s decision. Therefore, disciplinary action should and would be taken against him. There can be no one policy for the backbenchers of the party and a different policy for those in high office.” Noting that the SLFP’s Central Committee meeting is scheduled to be held next this week, Prof. Piyadasa said that the initiation of disciplinary action against de Silva would be discussed during the said meeting. Following his appointment as Prime Minister on 12 May, Ranil Wickremesinghe had invited several political parties, including the SJB, which is also the main Parliamentary Opposition, and the SLFP, to support the Government to be formed. In response to the invitation, both the SJB and SLFP announced that they would support any progressive decision that would be taken by the Government to resolve the prevailing crisis situation, without taking over ministerial posts. However,  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa swore in nine new Ministers on Friday (20) in an effort to ensure stability until a full Cabinet of Ministers is formed. Among the said nine Ministers were SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara, who were appointed as Minister of Tourism and Land and Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment, respectively. SLFP Member and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna-elected MP Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed Minister of Ports, Naval and Aviation Services.


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