SLFP not anyone’s personal legacy - President

COLOMBO: The party’s interests should take priority over individual interests and the newly appointed SLFP District and Electoral organisers must dedicate themselves to safeguard and take forward the party’s heritage, President Mahinda Rajapaksa stressed yesterday.

The President was addressing the 27 Electoral and District Organisers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party who received letters of appointment at Temple Trees. The President said that the newly appointed organisers have a great responsibility towards the future of the SLFP and towards the welfare and future development of the masses.

He assured he would pave the way for any ordinary person who has the welfare of the party at heart to occupy his/her due place including the Party leadership after him.

“Some of you who were appointed as organisers may be satisfied or unsatisfied with the electorates you have received. But we must be prepared to stand up collectively as a Party. We have to be dedicated to strengthen the party rather than look for our personal benefits. As I have reiterated at all times, the SLFP is not the personal legacy of any individual but a party of the masses.”

The President said the country was enjoying the fruits of the social revolution brought about under the leadership of the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

“Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike strengthened the party and took it forward. As a party, our members had to face many obstacles. Some of us lost our properties. Some had to sacrifice even their lives. I myself suffered injustice on some instances. We have to keep these things in mind.

Leaving the party or revolting while remaining within the party is no solution to these problems. We have to respect the party discipline. I came to this position today after going through the mill,” the President observed.

SLFP General Secretary Maitripala Sirisena, and Ministers Athauda Seneviratne and Dulles Alahapperuma and a number of Parliamentarians attended the occasion.