No disciplinary action against MR: Dilan

From left: Spokesman and Minister Dilan Perera, Special Projects Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Labour and Trade Union Relations Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne at the SLFP Press conference yesterday – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will not take disciplinary actions against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at this point for leading a separate May Day rally in Kirulapone, SLFP Spokesman and Minister Dilan Perera said yesterday. 

“Our supporters want to see us as one family and if we take stern disciplinary action against Rajapaksa, it would be a loss for the party,” he said.

Perera said the Central Committee (CC) had still not discussed the matter as it expected to refer the video footage recorded at the Kirulapone rally to figure out whether Joint Opposition SLFPers had violated party discipline.

Perera noted the next plan of the SLFP should be developing an ideal candidate to contest for the next presidential election.

“According to the Constitution ex-Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa were ineligible to contest again for the presidency. If President Maithripala Sirisena declines contesting next time, we should keep someone new to be our candidate,” he said.

Perera added Kumaratunga’s son Vimukthi Kumaratunga could have a bright political future in the SLFP.