SLFP in turmoil
Attempt to suspend Arjuna, Hirunika, 3 others from
CC:
Pressure on President to convene Central Committee:
The Rajapaksa faction in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is
seeking to suspend the Central Committee (CC) membership of five of its
members contesting the August 17 General Elections on the United
National Party (UNP) ticket. SLFP Media Spokesman, Dilan Perera, told
the Sunday Observer the suspension would be enforced at a special CC
meeting they are urging President Maithripala Sirisena to convene within
this week.
He said the President has decided to convene a special CC meeting
within the next few days. Party sources indicated that the proposed
meeting could be part of moves to push for disciplinary action against
the five CC members. The five members are S.B. Nawinne, Rajitha
Senaratne, M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena, Arjuna Ranatunga and Hirunika
Premachandra who are contesting the August polls under the UNP led
United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG).
According to SLFP sources, the decision to call a special CC meeting
had been taken in the aftermath of a recent discussion President
Sirisena had with the SLFP General Secretary, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa
and the UPFA General Secretary, Susil Premajayantha.
An urgently convened CC meeting scheduled for July 15 was cancelled
following an enjoining order issued by the Colombo District Court,
preventing the Committee from holding meetings without the permission of
t Party Leader, President Maithripala Sirisena. |