A section of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party Central Committee and the Democratic Left Front Central Committee today condemned the decision taken by the five Leftist MPs to support the 18th Amendment. 

“We condemn the decision of the executive committee of the Socialist Alliance to vote in favour of the18th amendment ignoring the decision of two of its constituent parties at the highest level, the Political Bureau of the Lanka Samasamaja Party and the Central Committee of the Democratic Left Front not to participate in the voting. The opportunistic nature of this decision is clear from Vasudeva Nanayakara’s statement to the media that they are opposed to the contents of the amendment but will vote for it," A statement by the group said.

“The pronouncement of the Socialist Alliance is a decision to support a move towards the establishment of an authoritarian regime. This is a betrayal of all what the Left has stood and fought for under trying circumstances for many decades. The opportunist and self-serving leaders of the Socialist Alliance now stand exposed and we call upon the progressive forces to oppose the 18th Amendment and to fight against the establishment of an authoritarian state, by united action with all who stand against this menace.”

The statement was signed by: LSSP Treasurer and Political Bureau member Asoka Weerasinghe De Silva; LSSP Deputy Secretary and Political Bureau member Wimal Rodrigo; LSSP Political Bureau member Lal Wijenayake; LSSP Political Bureau member Percy Wickramasekera; LSSP Political Bureau member and Lanka Estate Workers’ Union President Vijay Kumar; LSSP Political Bureau member Jayampathy Wickramaratne; LSSP CC member and Ceylon Federation of Labour President TM Raseedin; LSSP CC member and Samasamaja Youth League Federation Secretary Chameera Perera; LSSP CC member Helaruwan Senaratne; LSSP CC member ASM Farook; LSSP CC member Jude Lester; DLF Ex Co member, Treasurer and CC member Walter Wilegoda; DLF ExCo member, National Secretary and CC member Quintus Liyanage; DLF CC member Kumar David; DLF ExCo and CC member Lankaloka; DLF CC member Dilshan Dharmasena and DLF CC observer Chandrapala.