SLFP puts fate in President’s hands

• MPS say they are ready to step down from Govt. and sit in Opposition if Sirisena decides so  
• Plans to work towards establishing Govt. in 2020

By Skandha Gunasekara

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parliamentarians belatedly presented a united front yesterday, giving President Maithripala Sirisena carte blanche to decide on the future of the coalition government, saying that they were even willing to step down and sit in the Opposition. 

Following the defeat of the no-confidence motion in Parliament yesterday, SLFP Minister Dilan Perera, who voted in favor of the no-confidence motion, told the media yesterday that they had informed the President that they were prepared to vacate their ministerial posts and even sit in the Opposition if needed. 

“We are not power hungry or have desires to hold ministerial portfolios. We want to fulfill the mandate given to us by our voters and SLFP supporters so we told the President to decide whether he wants us to remain in our positions or not. We are even prepared to sit in the Opposition and work for the party. Whether we are in the Government or the Opposition, we will always remain SLFPers,” said Minister Perera. 

The Minister made these remarks while taking part in a media briefing held at the party headquarters at Darley Road. 

SLFP Minister Chandima Weerakkody, who also took part in the new conference, said that despite individual members having a differences of opinion, the party was still united. 

“The President told us that he would remain neutral and for us to take our own decisions regarding the no-confidence motion. Our members may have voted differently or abstained but the party is still united. The President didn’t criticise or praise the decision we took at the no-confidence motion,” said Minister Weerakkody.

He went on to note that the party would now work to establish an SLFP government in 2020.