No separate political front – SLFP dissidents

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

SLFP dissidents in the Joint Opposition yesterday confirmed that no final decision had been taken to contest the upcoming Local Government polls under a separate political Front.

“We still function as the Joint Opposition in Parliament, but the comments by some UPFA coalition partners show there are signs of an emerging political party. The majority of the Local Government and Pradeshiya Sabha heads and members have already said if former President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not lead the Local Government election campaign, they would not contest under the SLFP-led UPFA coalition, SLFP Senior Vice President and UPFA Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said yesterday.

The SLFP stalwart said so far the dates have not been fixed for the Local Government polls. The SLFP MPs in the Joint Opposition have not decided to form a separate political party. At present, we are discussing the issues pertaining to the Constitutional Assembly and the Bhikkhu Kathikawath Bill.

However, MP Welgama said SLFP activists at grassroots level are disappointed over the conduct of the government and some SLFP MPs who had obtained portfolios in the UNP-led National Government. In these circumstances, some political transformation may take place in the political arena, he said.

Kandy District UPFA Parliamentarian Mahindananda Aluthgamage said some proposals have already been made that the Joint Opposition should contest the upcoming Local Government polls separately, but we as SLFPers have not taken a final decision on it. “We are still trying to form an SLFP government. What President Maithripala Sirisena should do at this juncture is to appoint an SLFP Prime Minister and form an SLFP government. Else, it would be difficult to prevent any split in the SLFP.