Attempt to expel Chandrika from SLFP?

Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon is reportedly preparing to move a proposal before the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Central Committee for the expulsion of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga as Senior Patron of the party.

Minister Tennekoon has told Sunetra Athugalpura of ‘Lakbima’ newspaper that it was a breach of discipline when the ex-president, as patron of the party, had attended an opposing political party function and criticized the government.

Mrs. Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe were the chief guests at the inaugural delegates’ conference of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Mahajana Wing at the invitation of its leader Mangala Samaraweera at the Colombo New Town Hall on June 12th.

SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena too, was invited, the SLFP (M) said.

Addressing the function, the ex-President said freedom, democracy and democratic institutions as well as traditions that the country had enjoyed for a long period in post-independence Sri Lanka are endangered today, and urged the government to stop the trend.

She called for a moderate path in the SLFP, and said thuggery and corruption should be eliminated from the party.

Highlighting the need for an extensive people's dialogue within the party, she added that being carried away by power and giving no place to dissenting ideas should have no place in the SLFP.

Speaking further, the ex-head of state described the SLFP as a very valuable people’s organization.

“Similarly, the SLFP (M) which holds is first delegates’ conference today, is a powerful group that propagates democracy. The country also has a large number of parties, organizations and public figures that reject extremism and dictatorship which are taking the country to ruins,” she said.

All parties that respect democracy, freedom and dignity should get together in order to end the war and to solve socio-political and economic problems, she said.

Mrs. Kumaratunga stressed that she had no malicious intent towards anyone when she makes this appeal.

“After achieving the highest positions in life and after being the country’s president for 12 years, I am now away from the political battlefront. The country’s people still love me, although the present regime had created numerous problems for me in the past two-and-a-half years and circulated falsehoods against me through the state media,” Mrs. Kumaratunga charged.
She, however, assured that she would not be intimidated by a handful of malicious-minded persons as long as the country’s people keep their faith in her.


Mrs. Kumaratunga said that she was making the speech as a person who had not misused national or state assets, but spent time, energy and skills for the nation and its people for 14 long years, and that a vast majority of the masses would agree with her on that account.
She added that she was saddened and dejected to see the country that has been built with such sacrifices, now falling into a deep abyss.

Mrs. Kumaratunga again appealed to all those who can set aside personal differences, hunger for power and wealth, to unite in rebuilding the country.