Refusal to carve out new district is the reason-SLFP

28 December 2014 11:33 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While claiming that the decision of the SLMC to leave the government would not affect the vote base of President Mahinda Rajapaksa or the election campaign or, the SLFP today said that refusal to carve out an ethnically demarcated new district in the east was the reason for the SLMC to support common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.

General Secretary of the UPFA, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha said, Minister Hakeem wanted the government to agree to establish an ethnically significant new district in the present Ampara District that includes Kalmunai, Sammanthurai and Pottuvil and the government right throughout maintained that it will affect the territorial integrity and unitary character of the country. Therefore, President Rajapaksa flatly rejected that demand,” Minister Premajayantha said.

He added that demarcating new administrative districts on ethnic basis would pose many a threat to the future of the country. If another ethnic group demanded a separate district on the same line for their people the government has to oblige by it as well and there will not be an end to those demands. Mr. Hakeem must reveal now whether he decided to support common opposition candidate with the aim of obtaining a new district for Muslims.

Minister Premachandra said the decision of the SLMC would not affect the election campaign of President Rajapaksa as even in 2010 the SLMC did not support President Rajapaksa’s Presidential campaign. They contested the General Election from the UNP that followed.

“We have information that the TNA is also campaigning covertly in the north in support of common opposition candidate. The All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) of Rishad Badhiutheen also supports common opposition candidate. This is the conspiracy against the government that we are talking about,” Minister Premajayantha tressed.

Former Deputy General Secretary of the JHU, Western Provincial Councilor Udaya Gammanpila said it was unfair to compare low cost construction of expressways in Africa with that of Sri Lanka and added expert assessments and exposure o the frauds allegedly involved with Expressway construction in Sri Lanka were incorrect.

Commenting on Mr. Hakeem’s decision to support Maithripala, he said it was surprising that why Hakeem took a long time to show his true colours and added he could not understand how JHU leaders accept SLMC’s policies.

Kaduwela Mayor G.H. Budhadasa said the rumors that he was to leave the SLFP to support common opposition candidate was a work of his political opponents.

“I was bornn a SLFPer and will die as an SLFPer. I will not leave SLFP even if President Rajapaksa left,” he said. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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Comments - 10

Rajitha Monday, 29 December 2014 12:07 AM

Oh yes! Come up with some excuse after Basil failed in all his efforts at retaining them!!

Cobra Monday, 29 December 2014 07:32 AM

What if SLMC opted to join with MR?????

premalal Monday, 29 December 2014 07:37 AM

Where were these documents while he was with you?

Dharmapala Monday, 29 December 2014 08:51 AM

Please .... no communal politics again. We have had enough of that from UPFA so far

ibadun Monday, 29 December 2014 09:13 AM

Dear Susil, look at how Ampara district created and look at the map of the district how this land area been decided , who ever look at the map of Ampara district would understand the purpose of creating such also like Puttalam district creation , you guys always ethnically unfair , what and see on 8th the reply

lovesri Monday, 29 December 2014 10:03 AM

Well said Mr. Dharmapala

Sara Monday, 29 December 2014 10:23 AM

It will be interesting to see Ven Athuraliya thera and Hakeem sitting together.

Ryan Monday, 29 December 2014 10:41 AM

It was a known thing, SLMC discussed this for months. and under a weak leadership this becomes definitely viable.

Rana Monday, 29 December 2014 10:54 AM

Ho hoo hooo......

Nihal Amarasekera Monday, 29 December 2014 02:18 PM

Win or lose, SLMC jumps, winner direction.

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Refusal to carve out new district is the reason-SLFP

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