SLFP hits out at Ranil

Thursday, 2 April 2015 00:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday lashed out at Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement calling the present Government a “rehearsal” for the Government which is to be established after the general election, saying that in matters concerning governance there could not be any rehearsals. United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Susil Premajayantha, addressing a media conference in Colombo, criticised the Premier and said that a UPFA Government would come to power following the forthcoming general election. “In matters concerning governance you cannot have rehearsals because the whole country’s fate can change as a result of one decision taken in one moment. Therefore, a country’s rule needs to be direct and firm and there is no space for things such as rehearsals. For example, if during the war former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had rehearsals then how would things have turned out?” Premajayantha explained. Premajayantha was also critical about Wickremesinghe’s stated intention to transform the entire Parliament into a Government, saying that for that wish to become a reality Wickremesinghe would have to express his desires in an election manifesto and win a mandate for it.

SLFP to bring new proposals for 19th Amendment

The SLFP said yesterday that they planned to bring in a few proposals for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution as there were contradicting statements in the presented draft bill. SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadharshana Yapa pointed out at a media briefing that there were issues concerning the ‘Leader of the Government’ and the ‘Leader of the State’ in the 19th Amendment. “As we have said before we will only support the constitutional amendments and electoral reforms if they are implemented together. A good electoral system is needed as the preferential voting system is not suitable. Therefore a mixed system supporting the First-Past-the-Post system where minority people will gain a fair representation is needed,” Yapa said. He also criticised the Government by saying that although they were talking about good governance they had still not been able to solve the bond issue which the Central Bank Governor was embroiled in. “The Government has no right to pinpoint people and call them thieves when they can’t even correct the wrongs that are happening in their regime. However, we believe that the interrogation of these authorities is being conducted with a personal motive,” Yapa said. Speaking about the Ratnapura rally, Yapa said that there was clearly a question of discipline within their party but they would talk about it at the SLFP Central Committee Meeting and solve it. “We do not want a rift within the party and we will not act in any way that will create a rift within our party. So if we have internal issues we will talk about those issues as a party and take a decision,” Yapa stated. Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala, who was also present at the news conference, revealed that some people who were trying to come to power on the back of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa were trying to divide the party.

UPFA confident Nimal will remain Opposition Leader

The UPFA yesterday said that they saw nothing wrong with the current Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva retaining his position despite the SLFP, the main constituent party of the UPFA, joining the Government. However, they said that the UPFA would accept and respect whatever decision was taken by the Speaker regarding the matter. This announcement was made by the UPFA amidst speculation that 58 UPFA Parliamentarians had signed a document requesting the Opposition Leader to hand over his post to UPFA member and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Leader Dinesh Gunawardena. There is also another group of political parties, which includes the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), which is backing Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan for the Opposition Leader post. Addressing a news conference, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Anura Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday said that the UPFA was confident that there would be no change in Opposition Leader. “The Speaker had a discussion with the all party leaders and said that he would make a decision soon. Most probably it will be on 7 April. However, though the SLFP is supporting the 100-day program of the President we are still the Opposition and will fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the Opposition. Therefore we believe that there will be no change in the Opposition Leader’s position,” Yapa said. Reacting to allegations raised by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) that the SLFP had been bought by the Government, Yapa angrily stated that if this was the case then they could accuse the JVP of being bought by the Government too as they were in the National Executive Committee (NEC) with the Government. He said however that the SLFP would not stoop to such a level. Parliamentarian Susil Premajayantha, who was also present at the news conference, said that though Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was boasting today that he held the position of Opposition Leader for more than 10 years and did not have any such issues, about 35 United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarians came and joined them at different periods during those years. “If it is Parliamentarians of the UPFA that got appointed as Ministers, then can another set of UPFA Parliamentarians sign documents requesting a change in the Opposition Leader’s position? Therefore if any Parliamentarians have signed such a document, then that is huge problem. However, the Opposition Leader’s position should not be made into a huge issue. The Speaker will make a decision on that matter and we will abide by that decision. And I have to ask the people whether the Opposition Leader’s position is a bigger issue than establishing a stable country?” he questioned. Premajayantha added that all he had to tell the fellow parties of the UPFA was that they could only win the next election if all the constituent parties of the UPFA acted peacefully, supported each other and contested together.