If not for SLFP, Yahapalanaya would have been in disarray: Nimal Siripala

If the SLFP was not a partner in the ‘Yahapalana Government’ the country would have been in a worst position by now as there was no one to oppose UNF’S anti-national and neo-liberal policies, Senior Vice President of the SLFP, Parliamentarian Nimal Siripala De Silva said.

Mr. Silva noted that no one talks about positive side of the unity government or the so called ‘Yahapalana Government’ but only about the bad side of it and added that the previous government was able to carry out a number of people friendly programmes under the direction of the SLFP.

Addressing a special SLFP delegation confab at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Silva went on to say that some people in a derogative tone say that the SLFP joined the unity government to lick bones tossed away by the UNF but the reality was the opposite.

“When the Central Bank bond scam came to the open, it was a team of SLFP members who probed the scandal and recommended to President Maithripala Sirisena to appoint a Commission of Inquiry that exposed all perpetrators and led to initiate legal action against them. We also were able to prevent all anti-people and anti-national proposals of the UNP from being carried out,” he stressed.

The UNP was bent on neoliberal policies that do not fulfil the aspirations of people of Sri Lanka. The UNP also aligned with the western powers while the SLFP find solutions to national issues based on indigenous and nationalist policies. That is the difference between the two parties.

National Organizer of the SLFP, Parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayaka said the SLFP was not a political party dictated to by one family or one group of politicians and takes all decisions on collective consensus.

“We in the SLFP have been subjected to a lot of harassments and vilifications by our own party members. We were hooted and insulted at our party office by SLFPERS who have sought safe heavens in temporary abodes. I appeal to all of them to come back to their ‘Mahagedara’ and realize their life long dreams under the banner of the SLFP because whoever tried to destroy the SLFP in what ever manner, PIC BY SHANTHA RATNAYAKAW

they would not succeed,” he said.

General Secretary of the UPFA, Parliamentarian Mahinda Amaraweera said the UPFA never expected that a major fraud like the Central Bank bond scandal would tarnish the image of the Yahapalana Government.

“We tried hard to bring the UNP into the right track but failed. But we never forget our responsibility in the unity government and until the last moment fought against corruption, waste and selling of national assets. We quit the Yahapalana Government’ after we realized that enough is enough and we cannot go forward with the UNP,” Mr. Amaraweera said.

General Secretary of the SLFP, Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa said the SLFP was a party built on blood, sweat and tears of Bandaranaikes, Rajapaksas and Sirisenas.

“The SLFP is the political force that represented the nationalism, the culture, customs and the down trodden in the country. Our party was always the alternative to the views and policies of the UNP. Therefore, our party had to undergo a lot of hardships, threats and harassments. There were a handful of conspiracies to destroy our party over the years but we have managed to overcome all these backstabbing and rise like the mythical bird Phoenix,” Prof. Piyadasa said.

We in the SLFP have been subjected to a lot of harassments and vilifications by our own party members. We were hooted and insulted at our party office by SLFPERS who have sought safe heavens in temporary abodes