Minister of Petroleum Resource Development Chandima Weerakkody says that Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s aim is to bring the UPFA to power with the people’s mandate at the next general election and not through some “underhand” tactic.
“We are absolutely against a split of SLFP,” he said, addressing a press briefing in Colombo today (10).
He stated that SLFP members have to be realistic and that the country comes before anything, and then the party. As far as the party is concerned we have to stick together, he said.
“We certainly have our gratitude for the leaders who have led this party. We don’t by any means condemn or criticize them unreasonably. But presently as members of SLFP, we have to be with the party leadership,” he said.
He stated that President Maithripala Sirisena will not continue as the leader of the SLFP forever and in time to come he will also step down and then the party has to be there for another person to take over the leadership.
We have come to an arraignment with the UNP to govern this country initially for 2 years, Weerakkody said. “Presently our duty is to do our best to develop this country not to play politics to topple the government.”
“As a party we have taken a decision and certainly next election we have to come to power. Our aim, determination is to bring Sri Lanka Freedom Party and UPFA to power not through some underhand thing but with the people’s mandate at the next election.”
He said that the next parliamentary election will be held under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena as the President of the country and the party. “So if we are to form our government, we have to be with the leader, with the party.”
He charged that anyone who attempts to break the party is doing it to satisfy the expectations of the United National Party, “which is our main opponent at a future election.”
SLFP members should realize this and people who love the country should realize that initially we are committed to develop this country, take this country forward and then let’s face the election and bring our party to power, the minister said.
