President can't go against party decision: S.B.

Social Welfare and and Social Empowerment Minister S.B. Dissanayake said today that President Maithripala Sirisena cannot go against the Party’s decision to be the presidential hopeful of SLFP led United People’s Freedom Alliance at the next presidential election.

He said that the party had already taken a decision to field incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena as the party’s candidate at the next presidential election: “He cannot go against the party’s decision”, Dissanayake stressed.

Dissanayake added that his party is of the view that the Executive Presidency should remain at a time when the country is striving to ensure that the periphery receives maximum power.

“The SLFP is of the view that the Executive Presidency should remain to ensure territorial integrity and the unitary status of the country”, he said The Minister was addressing the media after calling on the Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte Chapter Ven.

Thibottuwawe Sumangala Thera in Kandy yesterday.

He also said the Delimitation committee report would be gazetted on or before next Monday, and that the local government election is expected to be held before April.

He said that former local government representatives and those who faced slight defeat at the last local government election will receive preference at nomination boards.

“Those who have been accused of corruption an various other malpractices will not be given nominations”, the minister added.