The final outcome of the ongoing discussions between President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa will affect the decision on SLFP’s next Presidential candidate, SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara told news media yesterday.
“As SLFPers we proposed President Maithripala Sirisena’s name as the party’s candidate for the next Presidential Election. That decision could only be changed after the ongoing discussions between the two leaders. Our leader won’t take arbitrary decisions like some party leaders do. So the final decision on the Presidential candidate will be taken after discussing in the Central Committee,” MP Jayasekara said at the SLFP’s weekly news conference at the party headquarters in Colombo.
Jayasekara stressed the importance of creating a powerful anti-UNP coalition before nominating the Presidential candidate. “That is what the people of this country expect from us. The proposed coalition should truly embody the SLFP identity and character,” he said.
Asked about the SLPP’s recent claim that the leadership of the SLPP will be officially given to Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at the SLPP convention on August 11, the SLFP General Secretary said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was still a member of the SLFP and also functions as the party’s Senior Advisor.
MP Nimal Siripala de Silva said: “As a democratic political party we have to take practical political decisions with regard to issues like these. Though the political parties have their internal rules and regulations, some decisions cannot be taken according to those rules and regulations. Sometimes we have to take timely decisions in order to defeat enemies. That is why the party has not yet taken any action against those SLFPers who obtained membership of the SLPP. If we do so, it would be an advantage to the UNP. We won’t take any decision which would positively benefit the UNP.”
Asked whether there was a risk of losing the Opposition Leader post after former President Rajapaksa gets appointed SLPP Leader, he said the decision was up to the Speaker. “We have a few more months ahead and there is no need to change it,” he added.
MP Jayasekara stressed the importance of preparing a stable policy framework for the next 50 years covering all fields.This policy framework should be finalised before or after the next presidential election.
“Having policies that would be changed every five years due to regime change is useless and those policies will only direct the country towards destruction. It is important to have a policy framework which cannot not be changed due to regime change.” he added.
MP Sarathi Dushmantha and SLFP Youth Front Member Thisara Gunasinghe also participated in this occasion.
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