24 September 2022 12:00 am Views - 61
By Sandun A. Jayasekera
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) would take a final decision shortly on members who accepted ministerial posts without the approval of the decision making body of the party, the Central Committee and the party leadership, General Secretary of the SLFP, former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.
Mr. Jayasekara told the Daily Mirror that the action of eight members has dented the reputation and parliamentary strength of the party and therefore the betrayal cannot be treated lightly.
Senior vice president of the SLFP, Nimal Siripala De Silva and former General Secretary of the UPFA and SLFP stalwart Mahinda Amaraweera have been appointed as cabinet ministers by President Ranil Wickremesinghe without the approval of the SLFP.
He has also appointed six other SLFP parliamentarians, namely Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Jagath Pushpakumara, Shantha Bandara, Chamara Sampath Dassanayaka and Dr. Surendra Raghavan as state ministers also without their party approval.
Mr. Jayasekara said it was the prime responsibility of the Election Commission to declare an early LG election to uphold democracy and rights of franchise of voters.
“The EC is empowered to hold LG polls any time after the 20th of this month following the extension of the term of office of all 340 LG bodies by one year by the government in February. The entire country demands an election to test the mandate of the SLPP led Ranil Wickremesinghe regime. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the EC to hold the much delayed LG polls sooner than later to protect democracy and rights of the voter,” Mr. Jayasekara stressed.