No room to destabilise Govt - SLFP General Secretary

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: There will be no room for the various elements to weaken the stability of the present Government and Parliament, SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

“If there are any such efforts the SLFP will be strong enough to face any challenges with the collective support of other friendly political parties,” he told a media conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Referring to the recent crossover to the Opposition of former minister Mangala Samaraweera, he questioned as to which party has been invited to go along with the ‘Middle Path’ envisaged by Samaraweera.

“Will it be with the UNP?” he asked.

He said the door was still open for them to come back, adding that they were ready to disclose the reality with regard to the two MPs if they continue on this path.

Noting Samaraweera’s “apology to voters for misleading the public” to form the present Government, he asked whether Samaraweera wanted the UNP to win.

“The role of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe locally and internationally is very clear to the people. Firstly he must protect the country and the nation. Then he can devise a strategy to come to power at the next election. But he has deviated from the first role,” he said.

The Opposition Leader is tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka. His actions were betraying the Nation, charged Sirisena. “If the UNP really needs a General Election, we are always ready to respond. Our party will be elected again,” he stressed.

The Minister said the SLFP has proposed an agricultural revolution to be implemented from September to face the present economic crisis facing by the country due to international market fluctuations.

He said these proposals will be submitted to the 17th General Convention of the SLFP due to be held on July 21 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

A number of proposals related to overcoming the present economic hardships will be submitted at the convention for approval.

These proposals are connected with the development of the economy for the next three years and strengthening Government policies.