SLFP defends decision to back GR

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara

• Counters CBK’s statement and says decision taken by the CC
• SLFP says GR’s policies are aligned with party’s core values
• Claims critics of SLFP’s decision aiding UNP efforts to splinter SLFP 
• SLFP to sign agreement with GR on Saturday 
  
   

By Nuwan Senarathna 

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday defended its decision to back Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and said it was an attempt to keep the party unified to remain as a major political force in Sri Lanka in the future.

Speaking to the media at the SLFP head office, General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara countered the views expressed by several parties concerning the decision to back Rajapaksa’s election campaign.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga earlier this week criticised the SLFP’s decision to back the SLPP presidential candidate and stated that the decision was taken on the whims of a few high-level party members and without consultation with grassroots party members.

“The decision to back the SLPP presidential candidate was taken in good faith. The SLFP cannot support the United National Party (UNP). Therefore the only option we had was to back Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Based on these facts, we have taken the correct decision,” Jayasekara said.

Jayasekara argued that if the SLFP had decided to field their own candidate that would be advantageous to UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. He pointed out that the SLFP intended to defeat the UNP candidate and according to Jayasekara, Rajapaksa’s policies aligned with the SLFP’s and would achieve this end more realistically than the SLFP fighting a lone battle against Premadasa. 

Jayasekara charged that those party organisers who criticised the SLFP’s decision to back the SLPP were indirectly backing the UNP. He pointed out that the SLFP had only one option, which was to back Rajapaksa.

“Most of those organisers who spoke to the media criticising the SLFP’s decision were expelled from their posts. Some of them were unable to get even 100 votes. They were paid to come before the media. This is an attempt by the UNP to mislead our voters,” Jayasekara charged.

He argued that if the SLFP aligned with the UNP that would be the end of the party as that would violate its core policies. According to Jayasekara, those seeking to protect the SLFP did not have any genuine intention to protect the party.

“If anyone wished to protect the SLFP they would not be aligned with the UNP. Those wishing to protect the SLFP will back us to form a government with like-minded political parties. The SLFP is a party that will stand with what is best for the country’s future and that stance will not be changed.”

Jayasekara also intimated that former president Kumaratunga’s view stemmed more from her personal animosity towards Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa rather than any genuine concern for the SLFP.

Speaking at the same press conference, United People’s Freedom Alliance General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera said an agreement would be signed with Gotabaya Rajapaksa on 19 October at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.