SLFP ready to form new govt. if requested by President: Yapa

General Secretary of the SLFP, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday said if President Maithripala Sirisena invites the SLFP led UPFA to form a government in the event of the collapse of the incumbent UNP led regime, the UPFA would do so under the Premiership of Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva.

Responding to a journalist at yesterday’s weekly news briefing called by the party he said ‘Here you have a Prime Minister in waiting and he is the most suitable and qualified law maker to become the Prime Minister in a UPFA led government,”.

Mr. Yapa explained that President Sirisena had instructed the SLFP seniors to prepare the groundwork to resume the stalled dialogue with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bid to bring the two factions under one flag and contest the upcoming polls as a common front.

He told the media that a number of key decisions were taken on Tuesday at a meeting held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute chaired by President Sirisena and attended by all SLFP Parliamentarians, district organizers, Provincial Council, Urban Council and Pradeshiya Sabha members, to ensure the SLFP led UPFA’s victory at the upcoming polls.

“Party members who aired their feelings at the meeting were of the view that it was extremely vital to bring the two SLFP factions, led by former President Rajapaksa and incumbent President Sirisena, together if the SLFP was to emerge victorious at the forthcoming General Election, the truth of which was accepted by President Siriena,” Mr. Yapa said. He said a six- member committee comprising Opposition Whip, John Seneviratne, UPFA General Secretary and SLFP National Organiser Susil Premajayantha, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Dilan Perera, Kumara Welgama and T.B.Ekanayaka had been entrusted with the task of mending fences between the two groups and creating a strong political front, under President Sirisena assisted by former president Rajapaksa.

“What is important is that everyone, including President Sirisena, agreed that unity in the party was vital to win the election and all must work towards this end,” he added.

Mr. Yapa said Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva, Mr. Premajayantha and he would act as facilitators in the effort to unite the party. He said the UPFA would not demand a dissolution of Parliament. Only the UNP and JVP want a dissolution and snap poll. But we want to pass the 20A before dissolution and support President Sirisena to fulfill the other pledges given to the people. Therefore we want the Parliament to continue for its full term and then go for elections.

Answering another question posed to him, Mr. Yapa said the SLFP was totally against the concept of a National Government.“The SLFP led UPFA is fully confident that we can form a strong government after the election under President Sirisena and rectify all the misdeeds of the present government,” he stressed.

What is important is that everyone, including President Sirisena, agreed that unity in the party was vital to win the election and all must work towards this end