I will take necessary steps to protect SLFP - President

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Freedom Party since its inception had to face conspiracies but whatever the nature of the conspiracy, I am prepared to take the necessary steps to prevent the destruction of the party and protect it, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President gave his assurance when he addressed the SLFP Executive Committee Meeting held at Temple Trees on Saturday.

He made reference to the conspiracies launched in 1959 and 1962 and said that owing to the past conspiracies the party regressed for 17 years bringing about misery upon the party members.

President Rajapaksa said as a result of these conspiracies our supporters lost their property and sometimes even their lives. "They languished behind bars. That is the history of the SLFP," he said.

We cannot ignore our activists who were there since 1977. The group made many sacrifices for the party. That was the history that enabled me to win the last Presidential Election.

The JVP, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Muslim and Tamil parties helped us tremendously in the Presidential Election victory.

"We promised 25% of seats at the PS Election. We won and honoured the promise. I did not think who was dedicated to my victory or not when the ministerial portfolios were given. There were only 58 members.

"We have never violated discipline nor the rules and regulations of our party. "Under this situation my Ministers advised me to form a strong stable Government by taking people from the UNP.

So the MPs from the UNP came to join the Government. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Prior to that we were expecting to offer the Premiership to UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya. The MoU does not speak of a crossing over. Years ago the Bandaranaikes and Rajapaksas got together to form the SLFP.

"I cannot run the government with only 58 MPs. Some of the Bills that came before Parliament were rejected for no reason. Amidst this situation there was a rumour looming large throughout the country that a General Election was imminent.

Government officials dodged work owing to this rumour. "I can remember how Mangala Samaraweera told me to take UNPers including Karu Jayasuriya which would leave the UNP in tatters.

He said so at the SLFP Executive Committee meeting and the Cabinet. This is not done on my own accord.

Mangala Samaraweera was given four important portfolios including the most powerful Foreign Affairs portfolio. The Successive SLFP governments have always stood up for the cause of Palestine.

The Sri Lanka Government supported the Palestinian cause through the ages. But last time when the issue of Palestine was put to a vote before the United Nations, the Sri Lankan delegate walked away from the meeting which 158 countries in the world voted in support of Palestine.

That was the first time in history that Sri Lanka did not vote on this issue. I have been the President of the Sri Lanka-Palestine Friendship for the last 20 to 30 years. Even now I am a patron of that Friendship Society.

In this back-ground, my Foreign Minster walked away without exercising his vote. This is a break from the principle of our party since the time of our former Leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

He destroyed that principle within seconds. I asked him as to why he took that decision. That was a decision that had to be taken by the Head of the State. It was a principle of the party for many years. He broke that principle within a few seconds. That followed various other problems.

A paper was started to attack me endlessly. The Mavilaru issue was criticised. That paper carried interviews of LTTE leaders. We all know the truth of this propaganda. At the same time we know who is behind this false propaganda.

They are planning to attack the Government in a subtle way. This Government could form a stable Government with 121 members. We have created a stable Government.

SLFP Secretary-General Maithripala Sirisena also addressed the meeting.