The Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s 68th anniversary will be celebrated today on a grand scale under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP Senior Vice Chairman and the Anniversary Celebration Organizing Committee Chairman MP Nimal Siripala de Silva said.
The SLFP’s 68th Anniversary Celebrations will be held at the Sugathadhasa Indoor Stadium from 2 p.m. on wards.
Addressing the media at SLFP Headquarters yesterday, the Senior Vice Chairman said that the Policy Framework of the SLFP, ‘Sunila Janawadaya’ is scheduled to be launched at the anniversary celebrations.
“Our anniversary celebration is not an exhibition to showcase party’s history and present situation, but it is a part of the long term people-friendly programme of the party,” he said.
MP de Silva further said the SLFP is a kingmaker and no one could secure victory at the forthcoming Presidential election without the support of the SLFP.
“The SLFP will never support Ranil’s UNP, Sajith’s UNP or Karu’s UNP and will always stand to defeat the UNP at the upcoming elections,” de Silva added.
Commenting on the ongoing discussions between the SLFP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), MP Nimal Siripala said that both parties should respect each party’s policies and come to a common stance on the formation of anti-UNP alliance.
“In principal, we want to emphasize that there must be a common symbol. If we can agree on a common symbol, 99 percent of the problems are over,” the MP said.
From the inception, the SLFP wanted to field a candidate at the upcoming Presidential Election. But all depends on the wishes of the President. We can’t force people to come and be a candidate. President Sirisena is a formidable candidate. He should announce that he would be the candidate. But it has not been done yet.
“Now we want to join in an alliance with the SLPP. We hope that the alliance will be formed. In that alliance we should have an identity. We can’t dissolve our party and join another party,” he added.
SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera, SLFP National Organizer Duminda Dissanayake, Media Spokesman Weerakumara Dissanayake and former General Secretary Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa also addressed the occasion.
(Daily News)