Prepare for change - SLFP

by Staff Writer 03-09-2023 | 9:48 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The 72nd anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was held in Sri Jayawardenepura on Sunday (03), under the theme 'Ekwemu, Venasakata Sarasemu'.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara, Senior Deputy Chairmen Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay and diplomats of China and Cuba were in attendance.

Several representatives of political parties including Minister of Justice Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, John Seneviratne and General Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. D Weerasinghe also joined the celebrations.

"Sri Lanka has become politically stable again. We hope to be able to continue to carry out the duty fulfilled by the SLFP to the nation, based on a broad alliance, to build Sri Lanka in the future," Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said at the event.

"Before joining other parties, we must unite within the party,"
Senior Deputy Chairman of the SLFP Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

"Which party doesn't have divisions? The UNP is divided, the JVP is divided, and the TNA is divided. Even the Lanka Sama Samaja Party is divided. We must unite to show our strength and the difference from other parties," he added.

National Organizer of the SLFP Duminda Dissanayake requested their supporters to prepare for change.

"A massive change is coming in the future, and you must prepare for it in the village," he stressed.

General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns over Sri Lanka's position amidst the prevailing geopolitical crisis.

"They are saying a Chinese vessel is arriving in Hambantota, and on the other hand a vessel that can deactivate missiles will arrive from India. This is becoming a war zone. We must reach a common stance, we'll either join the government or the opposition. We must choose one," he said.

Chairman of the SLFP Former President Maithripala Sirisena has called for nominations for the Presidential Election by October 2024.

" A majority of the population has not rallied around a single political party yet. 60% of the people are still undecided on which party they are going to vote for in the upcoming elections," he said.