SLFP to propose MS for presidency

Pic by Nisal Baduge

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The SLFP has decided to propose President Maithripala Sirisena as its presidential candidate but left it to him to accept or reject this proposal, SLFP General Secretary and MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.  He said the President had still not declared his candidature for the forthcoming presidential polls but hoped he would do so when the time was right.  
The MP said the SLFP was in the process of reorganising the party structure at the grassroots level.  “We have appointed constituent, district and provincial level organizers and reorganized the youth and women’s branches and trade unions as a preparation for elections at any time,” he said.  

Responding to a Daily Mirror journalist, the MP admitted that there was a huge protest by the public against Western Province Governor Azath Zalley and Eastern Province Governor A.L.M. Hisbullah but removing them from their posts would only bring more problems.  “The PCs in the Western and Eastern Provinces are under the respective governors, they have to attend to the duties of the PCs, ministers and the chief minister as such removing them in a hurry will not be easy. However, the President will decide if the situation worsens,” he said.  
The MP said the two governors must refrain from making statements and comments to the media as it would complicate matters.   

“They must not make the current situation a media circus by making various contradictory statements,” he said and added that the Police and the CID must be allowed to carry out their investigations on Kurunegala Teaching Hospital without outside interference. 

Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen is alleged to have performed hundreds of illegal sterilizations on unsuspecting women.   “By making speculative allegations, the media will only hamper the Police and the CID probes . The law enforcement authorities must be allowed to do their job in an impartial manner. We want to know the truth. If he is found guilty then he must be punished under the law,” the MP said.   

He admitted that Dr. Shihabdeen was known to him for some time because he was involved in sports activities in Kurunegala and associated with him when he was minister.  

By making speculative allegations, the media will only hamper the Police and the CID probes . The law enforcement authorities must be allowed to do their job in an impartial manner