16 SLFP rebels to take part in SLFP May Day rally

By Skandha Gunasekara

The 16 dissident Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members who are to sit in the Opposition in Parliament next week will be taking part in the SLFP May Day rally. 

SLFP MP Dilan Perera, who is a part of the group of 16, told the Daily FT that despite the group deciding to sit in the Opposition, they were still loyal to the party. 

“We will definitely take part in the SLFP May Day rally. We are sitting in the Opposition due to our different views regarding Government policies,” said Perera.

The SLFP May Day rally will be held in Batticaloa on Monday (7). 

Furthermore, with regard to their allegiances within Parliament, Perera said that the 16 would vote in favour of the Government and the Joint Opposition, depending on the issue at hand.

“We have a difference of opinion with the Government on various issues but that doesn’t mean we will vote against it every time. On certain issues we will support the Government on others we may vote with the Joint Opposition,” Perera said.  

Meanwhile, newly-appointed Minister of Irrigation, Water Resources Management and Disaster Management, Duminda Dissanayake, while assuming duties today said that soon all would rally around the SLFP. 

He went on to say that the most suitable candidate for the next Presidential Election was President Maithripala Sirisena.