Mahinda consents to transfer Chairmanship of SLFP to Maithree

Mahinda consents to transfer Chairmanship of SLFP to Maithree

A majority of over 120 in parliament now for Maithree regime!

Members of the SLFP Party gathered together at two locations at Darley Road, Colombo and Wijerama Mawatha causing a commotion last week, thus launching an incident of sabotaging the Party. On that occasion the Mahinda

segment said that they are comprised of 47 while the Maithree segment had said that they are in possession of 28. However these figures of members were not accurate and because even the day after, further SLFP stalwarts began to stream in with powers of Maithreepala Sirisena as President, and the Mahinda group began to dwindle. With the motive of dissuading Maithreepala Sirisena from this course of action to avoid the Party being destroyed, Nimal Siripala, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa inclusive of some others approached President Maithreepala while it was essential that his group expand itself in view of parliamentary activities.

In the process, a meeting between former President Mahinda and present President Maithreepala had taken place today (15) to discuss this issue.

As such, SLFP sources say that former President Mahinda had consented to bestow the position of Chairman of the SLFP to President Maithreepala Sirisena. As Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksha had himself made an amendment in the constitution of the Party during the presidential period that the position of Party Chairman should be held by the person who holds the position of President, this decision has therefore been arrived at to come forward as one Party at the next elections instead as a split-party which then was considered as significant.

Whatever it is, the majority of the present Cabinet would be the the coalition UNP, and it is the opinion of political critics that the manner in which activities of the organisatiion are to be carried out by the President on behalf of the SLFP would turn out to be somewhat complex. Since the forthcoming General Election would be conducted under the solitary parliamentary seats, unlike the the preferential system, those who have contributed in the largest measure towards his or her own seat and have thus achieved popularity would stand the chance of entering parliament. Therefore, it would be an election pushing forward towards victory for those who worked for the Party.

SLFP sources say that the Central Executive Committee would gather tomorrow Friday (18) to discuss about the forward-march of the Party while members of parliament who abandoned the Party are also expected to participate. 

In the meantime, the government has decided to call parliament next 19th with the intention of obtaining approval of the parliament for the 100 Day Action Plan Programme. Government sources say that by now steps have been taken to notify the Speaker that the majority members of the government is possessed by the government. Already 120 parliament members have supported the government on a permanent basis, government say. 48 members of the total number are those belonging to the SLFP. They have met President Maithreepala Sirisena during the past few days and have pledged that they would offer their support to him. According to the proposed 100 Day Action Plan of the government, it is January 19th that has been announced as the first parliamentary assembly of the new government. Political sources say that the number of the expected 120 members already anticipated would exceed at the sitting on that day.