Major shake up in organiser posts:

SLFP politics takes new turn

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The politics within the SLFP took a new turn when President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chairman of the SLFP appointed 26 new SLFP electoral and district organisers making drastic changes in the SLFP organiser posts which were earlier dominated by Rajapaksa loyalists.

A ‘Rise with Mahinda’ rally in Kurunegala. Pic: Courtesy gossipoflanka.com

The President launched the major shake up of the SLFP organiser posts by removing ardent Rajapaksa loyalists, MPs Prasanna Ranatunga and Dilum Amunugama from their posts of SLFP Chief Organiser of the Minuwangoda and Senkadagala electorates. In their place, Prasanna Ranatunga's brother Ruwan Ranatunga has been appointed SLFP Chief Organiser for Minuwangoda and Central Provincial Councillor Thilina Bandara Tennakoon, as the SLFP chief organiser for Senkadagala to replace DilumAmunugama.

Meanwhile, the SLFP electoral and district organisers in many other electorates and districts were also replaced with new organisers. The SLFP organiser for Kolonnawa, Duminda Silva was replaced by Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi while Kanthi Kodikara was removed as chief organiser of the Maharagama electorate and replaced by the Western Province Chief Minister Isura Devapriya. Dhanasiri Amaratunga, another Rajapaksa loyalist was removed from the post of Dehiwala SLFP chief organiser and Keerthi Udawatte was appointed to replace him.

At the forefront

The SLFP Treasurer and Minister S.B. Dissanayake, the SLFP chief organiser for Udunuwara has been appointed as Hewaheta SLFP chief organiser and Central Provincial Council member Manel Bandara has been appointed to Udunuwara as the SLFP chief organiser. Thilina BandaraTennakoon, the SLFP chief organiser for Kandywas appointed to Senkadagala, Mahinda Abeykoon has been appointed to fill the vacancy of SLFP chief organiser for Kandy. M. Samzan has been appointed SLFP chief organiser for Akurana to fill the vacancy following the demise of A.R.M. Abdul Cader.

Chandima Rasaputra has been appointed SLFP chief organiser for Matara in place of Sanath Jayasuriya and Sanjaya Siriwardena has been appointed co-organiser for Mirigama. The late Minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena's son Nalin Gunawardena has been appointed SLFP chief organiser for Seruwila. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe has been posted to Panadura as SLFP chief organiser to succeed former organiser Reginald Cooray, the Northern Province Governor while Western Provincial Council Minister Ranjith Somawansa has been appointed the SLFP chief organiser for Agalawatta.

Western Provincial Councillor Hector Bethmage is the new SLFP chief organiser for Colombo West and Sumith Vijithamuni Soysa is the SLFP chief organiser for Avissawella. Western Provincial Council Minister Sumith Lal Mendis is the new SLFP co-organiser for Kalutara.

President Maithripala Sirisena has also appointed several SLFP district organisers including Sujeewa Chandrasiri as Colombo district SLFP organiser, Anju Sri Sharm Perera, district organiser for Gampaha, Asanka Ediriweera, SLFP district organiser for Kalutara, Channa Saliya Mendis and Thisara Gunasinghe, co-district organisers for Galle and Pasanda Yapa Abeywardena and Nalin Ranaweera, co-district organisers for Matara.

Reliable sources told the Sunday Observer that electoral organiser posts of another 13 SLFP MPs who were at the forefront of ''Rise with Mahinda' campaign will be removed. The MPs to be removed from their organiser posts are from Gampaha, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kandy, Galle, Matara and the Digamadulla districts. The SLFP party hierarchy on February 29 removed 12 SFLP organisers from their posts due to violation of party principles.

UPFA Kandy district MP Dilum Amunugama expressed his displeasure over his removal as SLFP organiser of the Senkadagala electorate. The MP, a frontline member of the Joint Opposition said to date he has not been officially informed about his removal as party organiser.

Asked for the reason to remove him from the organiser post, he said that only the party hierarchy may know as they had not yet informed him. I have not received any letter from the party that I have been removed from the organiser post, but another organiser has been appointed as the Senkadagala SLFP organiser.

The document released to the media by the SLFP said the former organiser had been removed and a new organiser appointed.

To date MP Prasanna Ranatunga or I hve not received any letter or telephone call regarding our removal from the party organiser posts. We hope to write to the party and inquire as to why we have been removed. Since another organiser has been appointed, this means that there can't be two SLFP organisers in one electorate. We are also wondering as to why we have been removed. Generally, the party should officially inform us of our removal.

Anyone knows that this government is an utter failure. What we are saying is how can you sit in a government where the Prime is the Head of the Cabinet.

Most SLFP Ministers are members of the Cabinet. How can you sit as a member of the Cabinet under Ranil Wickremesinghe and then lead the campaign in the electorate against the UNP? This is not possible. Why can't the SLFP Ministers leave the government and fight as SLFPers. The only reason we see right now is that a group of SLFP MPs wanted some portfolios and perks.They are not interested in the SLFP or the public.

UPFA Gampaha district MP Prasanna Ranatunga said he has not been informed or given any reason as to why he was removed from his post. I only know that a new organiser has been appointed to replace me. The MP said he was not willing to inquire from the SLFP about his removal and added that the Secretary of the Minuwangoda electorate has already expressed their opposition to the SLFP General Secretary about his removal and the appointment of a new organiser.

Moral right

SLFP Pradeshiya Sabha members and other SLFP affiliated institutions in the Minuwangoda electorate have also expressed their opposition to the party hierarchy. I have called for an SLFP electorate meeting today (March 6) and this matter will also be discussed.

We do not wish to challenge any decision by the party chairman. But when we are removed from our posts, the party leadership has a moral right to inform us of the exact reason. I also learnt about my removal from the media reports..

However, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a recent media communiqué had accused President Maithripala Sirisena of failing to safeguard the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Rajapaksa said when President Sirisena took over the SLFP chairmanship, it was expected that he would look after the party rank and file, uphold party policies and protect the SLFP's identity even though he was elected President on UNP votes.

He said he took pride that he could build the strongest SLFP Government during his tenure in office.

Rajapaksa also said his Government was so strong that it could be defeated only by conspiracy, vilification and false propaganda against his Government.