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Wednesday, 13 December 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Only “clean” politicians who seek to establish a Sri Lanka Freedom Party Government in 2020 can cross over to the SLFP, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera asserted yesterday.
Addressing a media gathering held at the SLFP headquarters, Minister Amaraweera said the SLFP would only accept politicians who wanted an SLFP Government in 2020 and had maintained a clean sheet in the face of the law.
“We will establish an SLFP Government by 2020. Anyone who wants to work to achieve this goal can join us but they must be clean. There are other political parties for corrupt politicians to go to,” Minister Amaraweera said.
The Minister went on to note that the two latest politicians to cross over to the SLFP, Weerakumara Dissanayake and Piyasiri Wijenayake, had not made any demands in return for joining the SLFP.
“I can assure you all that the two latest crossovers joined our party without making any demands. They came of their own accord, voluntarily. No demands were made and we did not promise them anything in return.”
Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, who also took part in the press conference, said the SLFP was disappointed with the demands made by the Joint Opposition during negotiations with the SLFP.
“The three MPs from the Joint Opposition who held negotiations with us were ministers in our 100 days Government. It is very disappointing that they demanded that we leave the Government. I do not understand why they would make such a demand,” Minister Abeywardana said.
Meanwhile, SLFP National Organiser Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala, addressing the media briefing, said that President Maithripala Sirisena would be leading campaigning for the SLFP for the upcoming Local Government Elections by heading 22 party meetings at the district level.
“We expect to finish our nominations list by 20 or 21 December. President Sirisena will be chief guest at 22 party meetings at the district level. Meanwhile, SLFP MPs have been instructed to hold party meetings on a local level. SLFP provincial councillors will also be holding some 22,000 party meetings at the district level,” MP Sumathipala said. (SG)
