SLFP takes up contentious issues with President

April 17, 2015, 7:53 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Media Minister and Kandy heavyweight Keheliya Rambukwella, MP, has told President Maithripala Sirisena that his relationship with the UNP shouldn’t be at the expense of the SLFP.

"We expect President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the leader of the SLFP to spearhead the party’s campaign at the forthcoming parliamentary election," MP Rambukwelle told The Island.

President Maithripala Sirisena recently announced that Parliament would be dissolved in May. "The SLFP needs to go flat out to win the next parliamentary election."

Rambukwelle said that he had an opportunity to discuss several contentious issues with President Maithripala Sirisena at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya in Kandy last Sunday (April 12). The President was in Kandy to participate at the state funeral of the Mahanayake of the Asgiriye Chapter.

Asked whether he felt President Maithripala Sirisena had neglected the SLFP, MP Rambukwella said that the vast majority of those who had exercised

their franchise for Maithripala Sirisena were UNPers. There was absolutely no point in disputing that, he said. In addition to the UNP, the JVP as well as the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) contributed to Maithripala Sirisena’s victory, the MP said. However, the Opposition candidate couldn’t have mustered as many as 6.2 mn votes without a sizeable number of SLFP supporters as well as members of UPFA constituents backing him, the former minister said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa polled 5.8 mn votes.

"I have had no hesitation in explaining ground realities to President Maithripala Sirisena. Of course, President Maithripala Sirisena expresses his gratitude towards the UNP for obvious reasons. But, the UNP, too, should be grateful to the former SLFP General Secretary," Rambukwella said. Had the UNP believed it could defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa on its own, the Opposition alliance would never have invited Maithripala Sirisena, the MP said.

Former minister Rambukwella said that he explained the same to President Maithripala Sirisena during last Sunday’s meeting. SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa was also present at the meeting.

Having unsuccessfully contested presidential polls twice on its own, the UNP fielded war winning army commander Gen. Sarath Fonseka at Jan. 2010 presidential poll. Rajapaksa defeated Fonseka by a majority of 1.8 mn votes.

The Kandy District MP admitted that he didn’t find fault with President Maithripala Sirisena for expressing gratitude towards the UNP.

Rambukwella said that he also questioned the basis on which Wickremesinghe received the premiership consequent to former president’s defeat. "People elected Maithripala Sirisena as the President. The SLFP also accepted defeat at the presidential poll. Only a fool will say something to the contrary. But can anyone justify the UNP given the chance to form a minority government. We are still at a loss to understand how a party with less than 50 members in parliament was asked to form the government when the SLFP-led UPFA retained more than double that number", he noted

"The electorate endorsed Maithripala Sirisena. It never asked the new President to hand over government to the UNP. Even over five years after the conclusion of the war, the vast majority of people still remembered and loved the former President for taking on an invincible enemy. The UNP is still unable to appreciate Sri Lanka’s victory over LTTE terrorism."

Rambukwella strongly criticized the recent removal of senior SLFP members from the decision making Central Committee. Such drastic actions would help those who had wanted to cripple the party ahead of the next parliamentary election, the MP said, adding that the SLFP should take immediate remedial action or face the consequences.

He couldn’t comprehend Chairman of Kotikawatte-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Solongaarachchi succeeding former Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, MP, in the CC. The SLFP also sacked Rohitha Abeygunawardena, S.M. Chandrasena, Salinda Dissanayake and T.B. Ekanayake. MP Rambukwella said that he was really disappointed over their sacking on the basis of violating party discipline.

Responding to another query, MP Rambukwella said that he also briefed President Maithripala regarding the ongoing crisis created by former President as well as ex-SLFP leader Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. The former minister said that Mrs Kumaratunga had taken an extremely hostile approach towards some members of the party, hence creating an explosive situation.

Rambukwella said that he visited former President Rajapaksa on Thursday (April 16) at his Carlton residence in deep south along with a group of elected members of the SLFP/UPFA. There had been a free exchange of views, the MP said, adding that during his meeting with President Maithripala Sirisena, he was told that Rajapaksa could contest the next parliamentary election.

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that this was told to Rajapaksa’s emissaries, namely Kumar Welgama and T.B. Ekanayake when they met him at his residence in Colombo.