MONDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2015
The members representing the Central Committee, Executive Committee and All Island Committee of the SLFP have divided into two groups – one group supporting President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Bandaranayaka Kumaratunga and the other supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and due to the ‘cold war’ between the two groups a controversial situation has developed which would lead to a split in the party before the general election say internal sources of the SLFP.
Normally, when the office bearers to the party are appointed the All Island Committee is made aware of the appointments. However, All Island Committee was not made aware of the office bearers appointed at ‘Ape Gama’ complex on the 14th.
All decisions taken by the Executive Committee represented by the office bearers are taken to the grassroots level by the ministers, parliamentarians, members of provincial councils and local government councils who form the All Island Committee.
At the event that was held at ‘Ape Gama’ on the 14th the members of the Executive Committee were accommodated in hall No.2 and members of All Island Committee were asked to assemble in hall no 1. No one without a permit was allowed to go into either of the halls say reports.
As the posts of president, secretary general and national organizer were appointed in hall no.2, those who were in hall no.1 were not aware of the happenings and a tense situation was created.
The members of All Island Committee expressed its opposition to the manner the office bearers were appointed and pointed out the move was intended to split the party. The officials that represent the Executive Committee accept Mr. Maithripala Sirisena as the leader while those in All Island Committee consider Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as their leader.
In such an environment the split in the SLFP before the general election is inevitable say political analysts.
