By Chamodi Gunawardana 

As the crisis within his party intensifies, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday sacked several ‘Joint Opposition’ members from their posts as SLFP organisers.

President Sirisena announced a spate of new SLFP organisers for 12 districts, unceremoniously ousting party stalwarts Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Gamini Lokuge, Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane, Rohitha Abeygoonewardane and Jagath Balasooriya, all of whom have pledged allegiance to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The ousted MPs function as members of the Joint Opposition led by Rajapaksa, participating in rallies and protest marches organised by the rebel faction in breach of party directives.

President Sirisena, in his capacity as Chairman of the SLFP, handed over letters of appointment to 41 new electoral organisers. 

They were removed following an action to appoint 24 districts and 16 electorate organisers for the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Hambantota, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Badulle and Vavuniya districts. 

Accordingly, MP Lokuge was removed from the Kesbewa electorate and replaced by Chandana Kathriarachchi. Former co-organiser Sumith Lal Mendis was appointed as the Kalutara electorate organiser by replacing MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena. 

MP Mahinda Yapa has been removed from the Weligama electorate and President Sirisena has appointed Hemal Gunasekara for the position. MP Rambukwella has been removed from the Kundasale electorate and replaced with Sunil Kithsiri Amaratunga. 

Jagath Kumara Samarahewa has been appointed to the Walapane electorate replacing MP C. B. Ratnayake from the portfolio. MP Wanniarachchi’s Eheliyagoda electorate organiser position was given to Sarath Sandanayake. 

The President has also canceled the co-orgniser potions of Udith Lokubandara and Sumith Samayadasa in the Haputale electorate and appointed Samayadasa as the main organiser. 

Meanwhile, Sanjaya Siriwardane was appointed as the Mirigama electorate organiser, replacing Kokila Gunawardane from the seat. W. D. Lalith Tensil was appointed to the Negombo electorate, replacing Sarath Kumara Gunaratne.

President Sirisena has cancelled the co-organiser post of former MP Upeksha Swarnamali and Chandana Jayakody in the Diwulapitiya electorate and it was given to Jayakody again. The Beruwala electorate has been given to M. H. M. Amjad and the Beliatta electorate was given to Eraj Ravindra Fernando. 

Jagath Balasuriya has been removed from the Kegalle electorate and Ananda Millangoda has been appointed for the position. The Uvaparanagama electorate was given to D. M. P. A. Dassanayake, replacing A. M. Buddadasa. 

The co-organiser positions of P. Sumathipala and Darmapala Seneviratne in the Vauniya electorate were cancelled by the President Sirisena and their positions handed over to P. Sumathipala and K. Cader Masthan.

The new organizers received their appointment letters at the President’s House on Wednesday. 

The following District Organisers were also appointed:

Colombo- Husain Manzil (former member CMC)

Rajika Kodithuwakku (former member Kotte MC)

Anura Athukorale (former deputy chairman, Boralesgamuwa UC)

Vidura Balasuriya

Gampaha

Lalith Wanigaratne (WPC minister)

Ajith Basnayaka (former deputy mayor Gampaha)

Kalutara

Sumitha Priyangani Abayadheera

Hasitha Gunawardena

Matara

Raj Chandralal (former councillor Matara MC)

Hambantota

H.W. Gunasena (SPC minister)

Kandy

Bandula Seneviratne (former chairman Udunuwara PS)

Nuwara Eliya

Sheela Yapa

Dr. Chulla Jayantha Dharmapriya

Ebert Perera

Roshan Gunewardena

P.P. Pratheepan

Kegalle

S. Ravikumar

Athula Ratnayaka

Farook Abdul Latheef

Badulla

J.M. Gunatilleke

Jayasiri Premadasa

Puttalam

Indrani dasanayaka

Anuradhapura

Premasiri Hettiarachchi

Vavunia

Chaminda Wasala

MR accepts SLFP invitation to party convention 

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has accepted the invitation to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) 65th anniversary to be held on 4 September in Kurunegala, sources said. 

Labor and Trade Union Relations Minister John Seneviratne had handed over the invitation to Rajapaksa at his Mirihana residence Tuesday afternoon. He had reportedly insisted that Rajapaksa take part at the convention.

SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake earlier said that he would send invitations to all senior members of the SLFP including Rajapaksa, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and members in the Joint Opposition. 

However, a group of SLFP local government members who support Rajapaksa said they will boycott the convention if the SLFP refuses to cancel the five-year agreement with the United National Party (UNP).