SLFP celebrates 66th anniversary today

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will mark its 66th anniversary today in Colombo on a grand scale. Thousands of party faithful are expected to pack Campbell Park, Borella, to celebrate the occasion under the patronage of SLFP Chairman, President Maithripala Sirisena.

For President Sirisena, it will be his third party convention since he was appointed Chairman of the party after his election victory in 2015. All eyes at the convention will be on the President, as he is expected to lay out the SLFP’s future vision, in a year where the ‘unity’ of the Unity Govt between the SLFP and the United National Party (UNP) has been sorely tested.

About 2,000 buses have been hired to transport party supporters to Colombo for the event, while the President has instructed electoral organisers that alcohol is prohibited at the event.

All SLFP MPs, including those supporting the Joint Opposition (JO) led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have been invited to attend tomorrow’s anniversary celebrations. SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake told journalists on Friday (1) that he expected all SLFP MPs, including those from the JO to attend.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is expected to attend in her capacity as patron of the SLFP. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also a patron of the party, has also been invited for today’s anniversary celebrations, with SLFP MPs supporting Sirisena, even stating, a special chair has been set aside for him next to President Sirisena. Mr Rajapaksa, however, has already told the media that he, along with JO SLFP MPs would skip the event.

Meanwhile, the SLFP says the party will undergo an extensive reorganisation programme after this year’s convention.