A group led by former President Maithripala Sirisena recently worked to appoint Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe as the Acting Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). This decision is completely illegal. The Court has issued an injunction against the former president as well as the secretary from dealing with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party until May 9.
Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera expressed these views at a press briefing held at his home in Agunukolapalassa on Monday (22).
The Minister also said: “Despite this, it is illegal to call such a meeting as well as take such a decision. And it is Contempt of Court. Therefore, we are going to Court regarding this matter. The former chairman has no authority to be involved in this matter. He has committed Contempt of Court. The other thing is that a political committee was called recently. There were some vagabonds and some dealers in it. The Politburo was not represented there.
“Nimal Siripala de Silva has been appointed as the Acting Chairman in a previous Politburo meeting. No one has taken legal action against that appointment till today. That alone shows that the appointment is legal. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party also needs to know this matter. Nimal Siripala de Silva has now been appointed as the acting chairman of this party. That activity is legal.
“This illegal meeting has been fully intervened by the officers of the Presidential Security Division who have been assigned to protect former President Maithripala Sirisena. They have prevented some groups from entering. They have done all the interventions during the meeting. Also, the people of this security division have threatened the group including Thilanga Sumathipala who protested the appointment of Wijedasa Rajapaksa.
