SLFP reorganisation begins on May 12 from A’pura

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The reorganisation of the SLFP will get underway on May12 from Anuradhapura, party General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the Mahaweli Centre, he said President Mahinda Rajapaksa starts all his political and development activities from Anuradhapura with the blessings of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya.

“Because of this, the SLFP has decided to start its reorganisation process from Anuradhapura,” the minister said.

He said this is not new for the SLFP since every three years, the party is reorganised.

“There are no political implications behind this. Sometimes party reorganisation was delayed due to elections,” he said.

“The SLFP is the most powerful political party in the country. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure has ushered the golden era of the SLFP which has a history of 60 years,” Sirisena said.

He said they were concerned about the present situation of some Opposition parties, specially the UNP and the JVP.

“If Prime Minister D S Senanayake was alive he would have questioned Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe about what he was doing to the party. Though there were some internal problems in the UNP during the time of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa, he was able to overcome the problems. If President Premadasa was alive he would have punished his son,” the minister said.

“The JVP is also divided. This type of situation is not good for the democracy of a country. The Opposition has a responsibility to support the government in its development activities and overcome some challenges,” he said.

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha was also present.