SLFP to contest under Hand symbol for future elections

• If and when the party forms a coalition with any other political party in future, the SLFP must lead the coalition
• The SLFPs Central Committee and the politburo met with former President

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The SLFP has decided never ever to change its original hand symbol hereafter when the party contests any future election, Party’s General Secretary and Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said. 

Minister Jayasekara added that if and when the party forms a coalition with any other political party in future, the SLFP must lead the coalition and the hand symbol must remain as the symbol of the coalition also.  The SLFPs Central Committee and the politburo that met with former President Maithripala Sirisena at the chair has endorsed these proposals. 

“The SLFP as the leading partner of political alliances has contested General and Presidential polls and won in 1956, 1960, 1970, 1994, 2005 and 2010. At these elections, we have contested under the symbols of cartwheel, chair and betel leaf but the hand symbol will be the symbol of any coalition in future elections,” Minister Jayasekara stressed. 

With the hope PC polls being held this year, the SLFP called for applications from prospective candidates to apply to contest the election from the SLFP and the response was overwhelming. 

“The party office has received more than 3,000 applications by last week. This shows the enthusiasm generated for the SLFP in the country. This is a result of the reorganisation drive we launched after the last general election at the grassroots level. We have almost completed the appointment of executive committees at Provincial, District, Constituent and Pradeshiya Sabha level and also appointed party organisers to all these levels,” he stressed. 
Our main objective is to attract all SLFP supporters and families who have either refrained from voting or voted for other parties in past elections. That is why I wrote to former President Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga requesting her to participate in reorganisations of our beloved party forgetting the differences if we have any, Minister Jayasekara noted. 

“I explained in my letter to her that the party has always acted in accordance to the party’s Constitution and party discipline and taken decisions to protect the interests of the party though they were difficult decisions. However, the time is right to forget and forgive for all mistakes and misunderstandings within ourselves and get together to rebuild the SLFP to its former glory with the ultimate objective of forming an SLFP government in the near future. The SLFP is delighted to welcome Mrs. Kumaratunga back to the party and use her advice, guidance and blessings to restore the SLFP as one of the robust, strong and blockbuster political party in the country,” Minister Jayasekara noted.