SLFP removes Dayasiri Jayasekara from general secretary post, suspends membership
COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has removed MP Dayasiri Jayasekara from his post as the party’s general secretary and also suspended his party membership.
The twin actions were initiated by party chairman and former president Maithripala Sirisena, who in a letter dated September 5, 2023, informed Jayasekara he had been removed from the party and therefor would cease to function as its secretary.
Jayasekara had also been informed that a disciplinary inquiry would be held against him.
Jayasekara on Wednesday (6) said he was yet to decide on a course of action, adding, “Let’s see how it goes.”
Addressing the party’s 72nd anniversary celebration on Sunday (3), Jayasekara said a crisis situation existed in the party due to difference of opinion, elaborating, “We are engaged in talks to resolve that crisis.”
Calling on everyone to come to one mindset he said the members have either do politics in the government or in the opposition. “We have to choose one,” he said, noting that the party leader had brought everyone together with great difficulty, and hence there was no need to have problems among them.
Last week, Jayasekara responding to reports that sections of the party were conspiring to have him removed from the position in the wake of a last-minute decision to shift the party’s 72nd anniversary celebrations from Kurunegala, his electorate, to Colombo, said he is happy to leave, if that’s what the party wanted, but said, “I’ll remain in the party, though.”
Claiming there was no pushback against him from the bottom, he alleged it was a few at the top level who want him out so they can go and plug the SLFP to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP).
Sirisena however denied there was any rift in the party, explain that the decision to shift the anniversary event venue was made taking into account the rainy weather now prevailing in the country, despite heavy rains in Colombo.
-ENCL/economynext.com
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.