JVP convention to expel rebels

30 December 2011 11:26 pm

The nine Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) central committee members who defected from the party are likely to lose their positions when the party appoints its new central committee at a special convention tomorrow at Debarawewa in Tisshamarama.

JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference the party membership would get a chance to appoint members to the 23-member central committee at this special convention.

When asked whether the nine central committee members who defected from the party would be expelled at this special convention, he said it was a matter for the members to decide.

The nine dissidents are parliamentarian Ajith Kumara, Dimuthu Attigale, Pubudu Jayagoda, Waruna Deeptha Rajapakse, Duminda Nagamuwa, Chameera Kowaswatte, S.K. Subasinghe, Dimuthu Abeykoon and G. Kularatne.

“We decided to have this convention for two reasons. One is that the recent internal rift created by some factionalists, there was a request from the membership to hold a convention. The other is that the decision was taken in September to hold this convention within six months. As such, we will hold it on Sunday,” he said.
He said the judiciary had given the go-ahead for the convention and therefore the attempt by the dissidents to stop it had failed.

“There was an outcry from these dissidents to hold a convention. Yet, it is hilarious to note that the very same dissidents went to court to block this convention. Now, they can come before the members at this convention and prove their strength,” Mr. Silva said.

In addition to the appointment of new members to the central committee and the leadership, he said the convention will take steps to position the party to face the political and socio-economic challenges in the New Year.

“Today, the government has messed up everything. Though the government won elections through manipulation, the people have distanced themselves from it. Today, we face crisis after crisis due to the blunders by the government. The New Year is going to be a year of struggle for the party,” he said. 

When Mr. Jayagoda was asked whether the dissidents would attend the convention, he said that has not been decided yet.

“There are different views. We have not reached any conclusion,” he said. (Kelum Bandara )