9 February 2021 03:54 pm
Referring to his comments on Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leadership, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader, Minister Wimal Weerawansa said there is no existing law in the country that prevents anyone from making any comment on other political parties.
Wimal Weerawansa has reportedly made a comment to Sunday Lankadeepa that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be the SLPP Head, replacing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
In reply to this comment, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told a news briefing on Monday that Minister Weerawansa had no right to make such statements in relevance to the SLPP and added he should immediately withdraw his statement and apologize to the public.
However, Minister Weerawansa told reporters yesterday at the Courts Complex in Negombo that freedom of speech has not been curtailed in the Constitution.
“If it is so, we can’t make comments on other parties like UNP, JVP or the parties in our alliance,” he said.
“In my comment, I didn’t intend to make the point that Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa should be removed from the SLPP leadership and replaced by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” he underlined.
“What I intended was that a proper position should be created for President Gotabaya as well, while Premier Rajapaksa holds the SLPP leadership slot,” he added.
Minister Weerawansa said creating a new position in the SLPP for President Gotabaya would further strengthen the affiliation with other parties that are in the alliance. (Sheain Fernandopulle)