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The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) celebrates its 53rd anniversary today. It was founded on September 2, 1951 by the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

SWRD: SLFP founder

It entered its first electoral contest in 1952, winning nine Parliamentary seats. Just four years later, the SLFP-led Mahajana Eksath Peramuna swept to power on a common programme which provided a progressive and democratic lead on many burning issues of the day, while involving the Pancha Maha Balavegaya (The Maha Sangha, teachers, doctors, farmers and the working class) in the country's development process. It signalled a process of social change unprecedented in the history of Sri Lanka.

The assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike on September 26, 1959, shocked the world, but it could not stop the SLFP's progressive march. The reins of leadership passed to the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who became the world's first woman Prime Minister in 1960.

SLFP-led Governments were also elected in 1970 (United Front) and 1994 (People's Alliance), when Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became the country's first Executive President. It is the main constituent party of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which emerged victorious at the April 2, 2004 General Election.

The SLFP's 53rd anniversary will be celebrated on a grand scale with a foundation laying ceremony for the new party headquarters today in Battaramulla. The present party headquarters at Darley Road, Colombo, was established in 1973 by the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The anniversary celebration ceremony of the SLFP as well as the annual convention will be held on Saturday in Galle. Ten senior party members from each electorate will be honoured on this day for their services to the party.

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Foundation stone laying ceremony for new SLFP headquarters today

The laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the new party Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will take place under the patronage of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at General Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Battaramulla close to the Coconut Development Board at 10.31 a.m. today.

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President Kumaratunga's message issued to mark the SLFP's 53rd anniversary

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