SLFP unanimously approves amendments to party constitution at 71st Anniversary celebrations

• Party Chairman Maithripala Sirisena says amendments proposed to address disciplinary issues 
• Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera refrain from voting for or against amendments
• Sirisena confirms SLFP will ally with leftist parties to face the next general election

By Maneshka Borham 

The all-island working committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) unanimously approved the proposed amendments to the party’s constitution during its meeting held jointly with the party’s 71st Anniversary celebrations yesterday. 

The amendments seeking major reforms in the party’s disciplinary code were approved, following a majority show of hands by SLFP members of the all-island working committee.

Addressing those gathered before the vote, SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena called on the party’s all-island working committee to support the proposed reforms to strengthen the party. Sirisena said he has been bombarded with complaints regarding the party’s discipline, or lack thereof recently. “Some have even accused me of being spineless and weak leading to factions of the party breaking away,” he said. 

Sirisena said, while he accepts these criticisms, the amendments have now been proposed to rectify the issues. He stated that: “If anyone has violated party discipline at times it takes over two years to investigate and take necessary action according to the stipulations in the SLFP constitution. Therefore the lack of action is not a fault on my part.”

In the past weeks, several members of the party, including its Vice Presidents Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera, were widely criticised by party Chairman Maithripala Sirisena and other party leaders for going against the central committee’s decision to not accept, any ministerial positions in the current Government.  

Notably, de Silva and Amaraweera despite being present refrained from voting either for or against the amendments at the party’s all-island working committee meeting held yesterday at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama. 

However, Sirisena said the amendments were not an attempt to get rid of any party member who worlds hard and toils for the party. “We need you all,” he said, adding that, however, the party must be strengthened and united for its future path towards forming a Government. 

Sirisena said the SLFP intends to form a front with leftist parties to contest the next General election to form a new Government. “Therefore give us your support to protect the dignity and future of our party,” he requested from those gathered. 

The series of amendments to the party’s constitution relating to disciplinary procedures were first proposed and approved at the SLFP central committee meeting held on Thursday. 

However, several heated exchanges took place during the meeting with de Silva, Amaraweera and Duminda Dissanayake labelling the amendments ‘undemocratic’.

 According to party insiders, the amendments are being seen by some dissenting members as an attempt by Sirisena to bolster his hold on the party. The amendments passed will allow the party to increase the number of senior vice presidents from the current four to seven while also increasing the number of vice presidents to 14 from 10.

Meanwhile, the Chairman will also be able to remove any senior vice president, vice president, national organiser and treasurer from their positions in the party. The Chairman and the central committee will also be empowered to remove those who act in a manner detrimental to the party’s policies and discipline from their positions and party membership.

Perhaps signalling a rift within the party, a petition was also filed before the Colombo District Court yesterday requesting the courts to issue an interim injunction preventing the amendment of the SLFP constitution and the adoption of relevant resolutions. 

The petition was filed by, way of a motion by SLFP Executive Committee member Montague Sarathchandra. The petitioner said the party was attempting to amend the constitution at a time when another case was being heard, against the party chairman before the same courts. However, the courts refused to grant an interim order that was requested and called for the case to be heard again on 5 September.