"People are aware of the capabilities of the SLFP": Weerakumara Dissanayake

Colombo (News 1st): Spokesperson of the SLFP Weerakumara Dissanayake, addressing a media briefing today (Jan 29), spoke on efforts by certain factions within the government, to criticize the SLFP. He made these remarks at the party headquarters in Colombo. SLFP spokesperson Weerakumara Dissanayake noted that the SLFP does not need to fall into conflict. He noted that the people are aware of the capabilities of the SLFP and if they think that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa can fix this country, and as they stand together with him if certain factions think they can attack them within that, they don't have any knowledge of Sri Lankan politics. He added that it is the responsibility of the people to identify such persons and drop them down to zero. Therefore, he requested that they not try their luck with the SLFP. He pointed out that the SLFP did not take political decisions after asking anyone. He said the Sri Lanka Freedom Party made their political decisions together with the President, the Prime Minister and the Senior Level Organizer and they will not be part of the games of these small district-level organizers. He went onto note that if they focused on preferential votes, they would not be able to do this kind of politics.

Journalist: Can you contest together after these conflicts? Is there a preparation to do so? Weerakumara Dissanayake: We don't have to worry too much about these things. Dogs will bark anyway. Journalist: Who are they? Weerakumara Dissanayake: Names are unknown. Journalist: Now the Prime Ministerial candidate at the next election is Mahinda Rajapaksa. Will the SLFP agree? Weerakumara Dissanayake: We spoke about the Premiership. We have no issue with Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, during a tour in Ratnapura today (Jan 29), responded to questions raised by journalists on the actions which would be taken concerning former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Dayasiri Jayasekara: No, there is no problem regarding that. We will join hands with her when required. She is someone who has been a strength to the SLFP. We do not hope to expel her from the party. She acted against a decision taken by the party's Central Committee. Therefore, we removed her from the post of the party organizer. However, she can continue to work with the party. We need to work after arriving at a common consensus, by taking a decision with the party's Central Committee. Journalist: Are all party members in agreement with that decision? Dayasiri Jayasekara: Everyone must unite. We do not intend to expel anyone from the party. The number of those who have left the party is now more than enough.

Parliamentarian Dilan Perera commented on the disciplinary action taken against him by the party in Badulla.

"I left the Sri Lanka Freedom Party by being prepared to face any disciplinary inquiry. The SLFP did exactly what we did. The only difference is that we supported Gotabaya Rajapaksa three weeks before the SLFP followed course. Therefore, I cannot understand the mistake that we have committed. The only mistake we did is that we initiated it. Therefore, we can face those disciplinary inquiries. We stood for Gotabaya Rajapaksa's election victory by leaving all our positions aside. Those in the SLFP who said they would take action have now assumed ministerial portfolios in Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government. So that is the situation. May those who take action against us be blessed."