Ex-President accepts President Sirisena as SLFP chairman

The Central Committee and the Executive Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, unanimously approved the appointment of President Maithripala Sirisena as Chairman of the party on Friday, said Senior SLFP parliamentarian A.H.M. Fowzie.

He said the SLFP also decided to appoint former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa as patrons of the Party at its Central Committee and Executive Committee meetings held Friday evening.

He said that parliamentarians Nimal Siripala de Silva and John Seneviratne were also appointed as Opposition Leader and Opposition Chief Whip at the SLFP Parliamentary Group Meeting.

Meanwhile former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a statement, said that he would hand over the leadership of the party to the incumbent President. The former President in his statement said that he disliked to see the SLFP facing the danger of division.

"Having held membership and various offices, including the Party leadership and having nurtured and safeguarded the Party with great dedication for over 50 years, I am taking this decision as I have a great dislike to see the Sri Lanka Freedom Party facing the danger of division." The former President said that it was the responsibility of all of us who love the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to ensure the unity of the Party, which has helped protect and develop our motherland.

Therefore, the new leadership, the Executive Committee and all officials of the Party should steer it towards the welfare of not only the Party, but also the entire Nation as well."