SLFP in turmoil

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 to Media 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.