GL explains reasons for unprecedented success of SLPP in a short space of four years

The SLPP could rightly identify itself with the conscience and aspirations of the common people of this country and that ensured its success story, Chairman of the party Prof GL Peiris said yesterday.

 In a statement issued to mark the fourth anniversary of the party, Prof Peiris said that the SLPP had been able to write a new chapter in local political history within a short period of 16 months by obtaining 71 percent of votes.

“The results of the 2015 general election changed the political mindset of people. They realized that the country’s future was not certain and the government that came to power promising to fulfill the wishes of people was not capable of the task. They discerned a huge vacuum in the polity with the absence of patriotic and progressive forces.

People then started to think of an alternative under the leadership of Mahinda Rakjapaksa. Basil Rajapaksa played a pioneering role in organizing the patriotic forces to fill the aforementioned gap and his dedication materialized in the advent of a new political force under the name of SLPP in November 2016 under the Lotus Bud symbol. The local government election results of 2108 indicated that SLPP is becoming a formidable force. The results showed that the new party within a short period of 16 months has been able to muster 71 percent of votes. The winning streak continued with winning the presidential election with 6,924,255 votes setting up a record that SLPP is the party with the highest number of votes within the shortest possible time in its existence.

The SLPP clearly understood the conscience of people and identified with the aspirations of people all over the country. It could record a resounding victory with its members securing a two thirds power in parliament in the last general election turning the political history of the country upside down. I consider it a privilege for me to become the chairman of such a political party that redefined all norms and standards and by setting up new heights in the local polity, Prof Peiris said in his statement.