Maithri - Mahinda confrontation and truth of stories woven

Maithri - Mahinda confrontation ....

and truth of stories woven

A meeting between the present President and the former President is expected to take place on May

6th Wednesday at 1.30 in the afternoon, after a period of close upon 4 months once again, subsequent to the election results of last January 9th at the Speaker's Official Residence in the President's Office in parliament.

Members of Parliament Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Kumara Welgama, Bandula Gunawardena and Dallas Alahapperuma are supposed to participate on this occasion. A number of rupavahini, radio and newspaper media in Sri Lanka already are quite distinctly seen to be directing their media on behalf of the group that is striving to bring Mahinda Rajapaksa into power once again. Under these circumstances, the meeting between Mahinda and Maithri media has been reported with exaggeration and there is no truth in some of those reports. One such false news was that Mahinda had forwarded two such conditions in relation to this meeting. The two conditions that these Mahinda supporters circulated were that the SLFP would under no circumstances go hand in hand for a national government and that a government would be established with political parties and groups who form an alliance with the said Party. All this has been woven and distributed across that media and the General Secretary of the SLFP, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has rejected this matter purporting an idea that this confrontation is something that is being done without any conditions.

Whatever it is, it is understood that MPs Welgama, Bandula and Dallas who represent former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Party are to forward a fivefold proposal at a meeting on Wednesday evening to bring about success to the discussion. They have stated that they would not divulge as to what those are until the discussions come to a close. It is their opinion that the discussion would turn out to be successful depending on whether President Maithripala Sirisena consents to agree or whether he would bring forward other solutions.

General Secretary, Susil Premajayanth of the United National Front Alliance stated across a media announcement today that the discussion which would take place between President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would turn out to be a significant one which provides the necessary background where the victory of the general election is concerned. The announcement broadcast by the President's Media on Tuesday evening had mentioned that only matters in relation to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party would be discussed and that nothing concerning Wimal's group or the present regime would be discussed. The media further emphasise that a discussion of this nature is to take place at the strong request of the Mahinda Rajapaksa faction. The President's Media inform that Messrs. Kumara Welgama and T.B. Ekanayaka had come to the President's house and asked that a meeting between the former President and the present President be held between them and after that a number of other monks too had requested that a discussion be conducted. As such, the President's Media has mentioned that the said discussion would take place. It is the opinion of political critics that the future of the SLFP would be decided upon according to the discussion tomorrow evening.

According to what Mahinda suporters publicize, the announcement publicised by the president's Media is that no special significance is attributed to this discussion and that it is a matter of giving a hearing to the request made on the President and that the faith of the public who voted for him would not be violated.

                                                SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

MPs Kumara Welgama and T.B. Ekanayaka requested from Hon. President Maithripala Sirisena by visiting him at his residence that it was imperative for a meeting with former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Two days later, a group of monks headed by Muruththettuwe Gunananda Thero, Medagoda Abhayatissa Thero and Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero requested for a confrontation at the above meeting.

As such, President Maithripala Sirisena had granted permission for that meeting to meet at the President's Office in parliament at 1.30 p.m. on May 8th 2015.

What is expected most at this discussion is to strengthen the SLFP.

On this occasion, we wish to inform that nothing whatsoever would be discussed in relation to what is presently being done by the government and that it would be limited only to matters confined to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party only.

It is the normal procedure to to grant an opportunity for any person or organisation to meet the Hon. President Maithripala Sirisena, as the President.

Any statements issued by any persons in this connection is totally rejected by President Maithripala Sirisena.

While no special status is attached to in instances when attending to such discussions as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, it is further informed that this discussion is being directed in a manner that it does not damage the respect and confidence of about 63 lakhs of voters who placed their confidence in him at the elections held on last January 8th.

President's Media Unit
05-05-2015