Reginald Cooray denies conspiracy against SLFP leadership

• Says President was aware of the meeting that took place at his residence 
• Says the meeting was not a secret one
• Denies discussing any issue with CBK 

As internal party turmoil in Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) intensified, former Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray yesterday refuted claims that he was conspiring to break away from the SLFP. 

Issuing a statement yesterday, Cooray denied any attempt to conspire as “indicated by former Mayor of Kaduwela G. H. Buddhadasa”, noting that President Maithripala Sirisena was aware of the meeting that was hosted by him. 

The statement follows President Maithripala Sirisena’s appointment of new Governors for five out of nine Provinces, leaving out Cooray who was serving as the Northern Province Governor till December 2018. 

Cooray sought to respond to comments made by a group of six SLFP organisers who implied that the 18 Members of the SLFP said to be rebelling against the SLFP leadership were facilitated by Cooray.  

“I see that my silence has been used to spread more lies. According to the former Mayor of Kaduwela G. H. Buddhadasa, Reginald Cooray is behind the 18 members. I state very clearly that I did not allow the meeting to be held in the premises to engineer any conspire. I am not stupid to allow for a meeting to stage a conspiracy to be held in my premises,” he said in a statement to media. 

Noting that he would not have taken signatures of those present at the meeting if it was a secret meeting, Cooray said that the names were first given to S. B. Dissanayake when he asked about the meeting, and later to the President himself. 

The six members, including Kesbewa Main Organiser Rajitha Kodituwakku, who named Cooray as the facilitator of the meeting at a media conference held on Wednesday, spoke against the SLFP decision to form a broader alliance with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). 

However, in response, Cooray’s statement, while confirming the occurrence, insisted the meeting was not a secret one to conspire against the leadership. 

Cooray also claimed that the President was aware of the meeting from the beginning, denying any communication with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga regarding the meeting or current political climate.

Stressing that he would “not leave SLFP under any circumstances”, he stated that he would stand with the party to face any challenge. 

“I will also support the broader alliance the party is proposing to form,” he noted, pledging support to their Party Leader Sirisena.