Prodigals return home

Ranjith PATHMASIRI

All SLFP (M) members disillusioned by the political antics of their leader Mangala Samaraweera have started returning to the SLFP which was their original home, said former SLFP (M) Administrative Secretary Dr. Cecil Bandara Senaratne.

Dr. Senaratne who said that even the UNP supporters would spurn Samaraweera by ensuring his defeat at Matara, said Samaraweera was only left with Upulangani Malagamuwa in his so called party.

Dr. Senaratne said he and his followers were at first a little afraid to return to the SLFP thinking President Mahinda Rajapaksa would give them a good dressing down.

But to their surprise the President took them back with open arms like a parent who would welcome his errant children back to his fold. He alleged that Samaraweera had deceived him and other followers saying he would safeguard the SLFP and bring it back on the correct track. But how he could do this by contesting under the elephant symbol was a puzzle to them.

He said a large number of SLFP (M) supporters left the party when Samaraweera belittled the Army Commander when the President was boldly trying to defeat terrorism by saying he was not even fit to head the Salvation Army.

Senaratne also alleged that Samaraweera had even put Gen. Sarath Fonseka in trouble by bringing him into politics and leading him to languish in military custody.

Dr. Senaratne said that Samaraweera's decision to contest under the elephant symbol was his personal decision and not the consensus of the SLFP (M).

He said that even Tiran Alles and Ruwan Ferdinandez had left Samaraweera's party disgruntled over his type of hate politics and deceit. Former Assistant Secretary of the SLFP (M) Nazar Hadjiar said he would wipe UNP supporters in Matara district not to cast a single vote in favour of Samaraweera.

P.T.D. Lakshman a former member of the SLFP (M) Colombo District Committee said Samaraweera even deceived the UNP Leader saying that Ministers were waiting to cross over to the UNP during the Presidential election. Meanwhile large number of SLFP (M) district leaders and supporters disgruntled over their leader Mangala Samaraweera's decision to contest Matara under the elephant symbol have pledged their support to the UPFA at the forthcoming general election.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, they said SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera has made a mockery of himself by contesting the Matara district under the elephant symbol forgetting his earlier pledge not to contest from the UNP ticket even if he had to beg on the streets. The former SLFP members who vowed to defeat Samaraweera and erase his name from politics on April 8 asked as to what had happened to Samaraweera's pledge to safeguard the purity of the SLFP he made at the Horagolla Samadhi.

They said Samaraweera had only spoiled the political arena by perpetuating hate politics. Former SLFP (M) administrative secretary Dr. Cecil Bandara Senaratne who presided, said he has how joined the SLFP to support the President and the UPFA.

He said their group would extend their unstinted support to the UPFA at the forthcoming general election.

He said the President had given him permission to support the election compaign any UPFA candidate he insisted.