SLPP founders must be given priority as presidential candidates

Colombo (News 1st): A group of MPs from the SLPP who were elected to the local government bodies convened a media conference at the party headquarters today (Feb 20). Speaking at the media conference Colombo Municipal Councilor Dayakantha Perera said that the people who were against the establishment of the SLPP from the very beginning and later obtained membership of this party underestimated the local government victory. He noted that they even attempted to push out the Rajapaksas who were the driving force in this colossal victory, away from the SLPP. Councilor Perera noted that Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa are only members of affiliated parties to the SLPP. He pointed out that they have no right to decide and proclaim the next presidential candidate or to decide on the formation of alliances. He noted that they are ready to form an alliance, but the SLPP has its own secretary and leaders who founded the party. He said they are the ones who need to sit in on these discussions and not Wimal Weerawansa or Udaya Gamanpila who say, "we can not just abandon our party". Perera noted that the leaders have to decide if they will form an alliance as the priority should be given to the SLPP. He added that anyone can join hands with us, it can be the UPFA or Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gamanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, TNA, Muslim Congress or the JVP we don't care. He went onto to note that other parties can hold discussions with their party on forming alliances. In his personal opinion it should be halted. He said they went to the parliament and became ministers with SLPP support. If anyone harms the image of the SLPP in any way, then a decision on whether the SLPP will support them at the next election.