2 September 2010 02:32 pm
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was snubbed for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) annual convention held today and was also a notable absentee from the massive poster erected behind the stage of the event depicting former leader’s of the party.
Speaking to exclusively to Daily Mirror online the former President said she did not receive an invitation for the convention held at Temple Trees today under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa despite being the patron of the SLFP.
The massive poster at the convention behind the main stage had images of past and the present leader of the SLFP, former Prime Minister S.W.R.D
However the image of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was absent from the poster despite the fact that she was the leader of the SLFP and President of the country before President Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed.
Asked if her omission from the annual event and the poster of past SLFP leaders meant President Rajapaksa had a grudge against her she replied “I don’t know why he should hold a grudge against me. He hasn’t told me. I don’t know why he is doing this.”
Mrs. Kumaratunga noted that the entire SLFP, except for three members, were against President Rajapaksa being appointed leader of the SLFP when she was about to relinquish power but yet she made him the party leader and Presidential candidate as she felt she had an obligation to do so.
Asked if she was now disappointed at nominating President Mahinda Rajapaksa to lead the SLFP and the country, Mrs. Kumaratunga said “That you will know when I write my life story.”
Daily Mirror online attempted to contact Prime Minister D.M Jayaratna and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena for a response to the comments made by Mrs. Kumaratunga but they could not be reached. (Daily Mirror online)