Rejecting the claims that there were democratic issues within the party, the Democratic Party led by Sarath Fonseka said today that there was no need to change the party leadership and that Sarath Fonseka would remain as the party’s leader.

“There is no doubt that people are voting for the name of Sarath Fonseka and not for others. Those who are asking for a change in the leadership are following an agenda set by the government.  These members had received a generous amount of money from the government to initiate this kind of mudslinging campaign against the party and the party leader,” DP Parliament Member Jayantha Ketagoda told a news conference today.

Few Democratic Party Organisers and candidates at the upcoming Provincial Council Election for the Western Province held a separate press conference in Colombo earlier and alleged that there was no democracy within the party.

According to Mr. Ketagoda the DP had put a condition for the candidates discouraging crossing over to other parties and in a case of cross over their seat to remain in the party.

“This is why some of the candidates are leaving the party even before the elections obtaining funds from the government. Our party will be better without such people,” he said.

He also said disciplinary inquiries were being carried out on the actions of these members. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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