MEP remains neutral

By Shamindra Ferdinando

SLFP General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekera, MP, yesterday (13) said that the SLFP wouldn’t quit the dissident or the alternative group under any circumstances or help form a national government.

State Minster Jayasekera said so when The Island asked whether the hastily arranged meeting between the SLFP and the SLPP at the Presidential Secretariat, on 08 March meant that the SLFP had abandoned the rebel group and pledged solidarity with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

President Rajapaksa chaired the meeting, called in the wake of the removal of the NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa and PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila from the Cabinet on 03 March.

Jayasekera emphasised that the SLFP would continue to support the rebel group’s agenda aimed at saving the country.  The dissident group comprises the Democratic Left Front, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the National Freedom Front, the National Congress, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the Vijaya Dharani Jathika Sabhawa, the Eksath Mahajana Pakshaya and the Yuthukama civil society organisation.

The SLFP parliamentary group consists of 14 members.

Jayaskera dismissed as ridiculous a claim, in some quarters that SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, MP, had called for an All Party Conference with a view to facilitating the formation of a national government.

Responding to another query, Jayasekera said there was absolutely no basis

for the Federation of National Organisations (FNO) claims that their proposal for All Party Conference was aimed at paving the way for a national government.

Even if all 225 MPs came under one banner the issues at hand couldn’t be resolved, Jayasekera said. “What we need is a system change. New Cabinet appointments and filling of vacancies in State Ministries will be of no use.

State Minister Jayasekera said that the SLFP leadership had explained its position at its Badulla District convention held on Saturday (12). Sirisena had given an assurance his party wouldn’t seek to further its interest at the expense of the dissident group.

Meanwhile, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEF) has decided to follow what its leader Dinesh Gunawardena calls a middle path as the SLPP and rebel group pulled in different directions. A spokesperson for the party told The Island that the MEP Central Committee had on 09 March decided to remain neutral.

The spokesman said that the CC had decided to protect the government while safeguarding the interests of the government and the dissident group.

In addition to Minister Gunawardena, Deputy Chairman of the Party State Minister Sisira Jayakody and SLPP National List MP Yadamini Gunawardena, Deputy Secretary of the party attended the CC meeting along with other members.

Minister Gunawardena sat along with the SLPP delegates at the 08 March meeting chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat where Maithripala Sirisena led the SLFP delegation. The government side consisted of President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, besides Minister Gunawardena, the Chief Government Whip.

The MEP, the EPDP and the CWC have distanced themselves from the rebel group.