Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe says that several smaller political parties within the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) are now attempting to control the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
“Our MPs should understand this. There can never be two leaders for a party,” the Minister of Skills Development and Vocational Training told reporters in Colombo.
Deputy Minister of Housing and Construction Indika Bandaranayake stated that attempting to split the SLFP will weaken the party and that only other political parties will benefit from it.
He stated that even former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has publicly expressed that he has no intention of leaving the party. “I think it is very clear today as to who really wants to divide the party.”
Western Provincial Council Minister Gamini Thilakasiri said that new electoral organizers were appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena recently according to the powers vested with him.
From another year or so the party will have to face the local government election followed by the Provincial Council election and the General Election, he said. “We need strong organisers.”
The party cannot move forward with people who keep “pulling from the leg”. That is the reason President Maithripala Sirisena appointed new electoral organizers, he said, adding, that nobody can say that it is wrong.
