COLOMBO –The Election Commission has warned that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) cannot function as a recognized political party or submit nominations for elections until its internal dispute over the post of General Secretary is resolved.
The Commission has renewed its call for the SLFP to settle the dispute, stressing that the post of General Secretary is essential for a political party to conduct its official business, including communicating with election authorities and submitting nomination papers.
The Commission said the SLFP was currently not being treated as a recognized political party due to the unresolved leadership dispute and would be unable to submit nominations for an election while the matter remained unsettled.
Last week, the Commission summoned several senior SLFP figures to discuss the dispute. Those who attended included Dayasiri Jayasekara, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Duminda Dissanayake.
The Commission has informed the party that, when nominations are called for an election, representatives of factions involved in an internal dispute must appear before it and reach an agreement on resolving the matter.
If the factions fail to reach a settlement through negotiations, the party risks losing the opportunity to submit nominations for that election, the Commission has warned. The same procedure would apply to the SLFP in future elections.
The Commission has also advised the party to submit a fresh application for recognition after fulfilling the necessary requirements, including conducting internal elections and appointing its office-bearers.
The dispute centres on competing claims to the post of General Secretary, with Jayasekara seeking judicial recognition as the party’s General Secretary, while the faction aligned with Nimal Siripala de Silva has backed Duminda Dissanayake for the position.
The Western Province Civil Appellate High Court earlier dismissed Jayasekara’s application seeking recognition as SLFP General Secretary and refused to issue interim injunctions against Dissanayake and de Silva.
The case is scheduled to be taken up again on January 8, 2027.
–ENCL
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