Former Chairman and ex-President Maithripala Sirisena has called on SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara to disclose the specifics of an alleged agreement between Jayasekara, his associates, and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to support the SJB in the upcoming Presidential Election.
In a letter dated July 27, 2024, addressed to the heads and members of the SLFP political bureau, district committees, central committee, islandwide executive committees, and district organisers, Sirisena accused Jayasekara of distorting the truth. Jayasekara had told a press conference last Friday that Presidential candidate Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is not a member of the SLFP.
Sirisena expressed concern over factions within the SLFP. He alleged that one group is attempting to align the party with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, while another faction is purportedly seeking to betray the party to the SJB for personal political gains.
Jayasekara had previously said that the SLFP had not decided to present Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as its Presidential candidate for the forthcoming election. However, Sirisena said that the Executive Committee of the SLFP had unanimously approved Dr. Rajapakshe’s candidacy.
Sirisena said that Dr. Rajapakshe had been granted SLFP membership in accordance with the party’s Constitution. Subsequently, the committee appointed Dr. Rajapakshe as the party’s Acting Chairman.
