MR claims true SLFP is still with him

Saturday, 7 March 2015 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday claimed that the authentic Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is still with him and that no one can ever ask him to leave the party. He made this statement when he visited the Madurawala Pradeshiya Sabha in Horana yesterday. Addressing the media, he said: “I’m in the SLFP. I ha

ve no other parties. I have never left even temporarily and I will never leave temporarily. Even during the previous election it wasn’t me who broke the party and left it, or helped to topple the SLFP Government which was in power. Therefore no one can ask me to leave the SLFP.” Answering a question posed by the media about where the real SLFP is today, Rajapaksa pointed to his chest saying “it’s here”. Commenting about yesterday’s pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa rally held in Kandy pushing for his prime ministerial candidacy at the upcoming general election Rajapaksa told the media that he had been invited for the rally, yet refused to answer about his participation: he avoided giving a direct answer to this question while declaring that he has to sign at several weddings. Nevertheless reacting to the SLFP Central Committee’s decision of barring party members from attending rallies organised by other parties Rajapaksa said, “I think that it is wrong. I believe public opinion cannot be stopped by threats and intimidation. No force is raising their voice against the United National Party (UNP) Government today. Rallies organised in Nugegoda and Kandy are the only voices available against the government today. That is why people come to those rallies.”