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SLPP turns 6, vowing to strengthen at all levels

03 Nov 2022

BY Kiara Warnasuriya The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) celebrated its sixth anniversary yesterday (2), pledging to strengthen itself at all levels in the future. SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday that the party is ready to move forward despite several challenges that they have faced in the past.  “As a party, we do not believe that violence of any sort can establish political power. Having said that, we hope to strengthen and modernise this party, moving forward with the blessings of party Leader MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, founder Basil Rajapaksa, and all those who supported us through victory and defeat,” said Namal Rajapaksa.  He also pointed out that the SLPP is a down-to-earth party that has faced imprisonment and ridicule in the past when its members were warned against starting a party of their own, and yet has persevered, winning the majority of elections in the past six years. SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena also addressed the media yesterday, assuring that the SLPP will be strengthened at all levels in the future.  “Our aim at the end of these six years, before stepping onto the next stage, is to strengthen all levels of this party, starting at the Grama Sevaka level, to the electorate level, to the district level, and to the national level.”  Abeygunawardena further stated that the party is ready to democratically face future provincial, Parliamentary, and Presidential Elections with the support of other parties. He also observed that following the leadership of the fifth Executive President Mahinda Rajapaksa through various challenges, the SLPP has established many branch organisations in almost 14,000 Grama Sevaka areas for women, youth, and other civil organisations.  He stated that members of this party originally formed by Basil Rajapaksa on 2 November, 2016, were gathered “like the drops of water that gather to form a large river” during the “good governance” Government under former President and incumbent MP Maithripala Sirisena. Abeygunawardena harkened back to the SLPP’s first election as a party in 2018, where the party won 85% of the local government votes, two years after its formation. “This was a milestone victory for us,” said Abeygunawardena.  “In 2019, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected President with 6.9 million votes. In 2020, at the Parliamentary Election, 114 SLPP MPs were appointed, and with a two-thirds majority supporting us, we formed a Government.”  He further stated that the party had won many victories with the power and support given to them by the citizens.  He also harkened back to the recent opposition that the party faced where Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the Cabinet had to resign from office.  “Governments will come and go, but for a government to form, it must have a stable foundation. The SLPP may have lost in terms of the Government, but we will continue to strive forward and carry out our duties.”  Abeygunawardena added that as a party, the SLPP believes that the people of Sri Lanka hold the right to elect and overthrow governments through the power of the vote, but not through violence, which is seen by them as an act of terrorism.  “We have shed no blood; we have no blood on our hands.” He stated that while the SLPP is the youngest party that has won many victories, it has always respected democracy and acted according to the peoples’ wishes. “If there are any shortcomings on our part, we will right those wrongs going forward. As the SLPP, we strive for economic growth, to develop with global competition, and to create an export-oriented economy.” The MP also stated that the Buddhist clergy, along with other party leaders and members had been invited to commemorate the anniversary at the SLPP Headquarters yesterday.  


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