Signalling another mass defection from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), a group of over 20 MPs including several Central Committee members and ex-ministers today pledged their support to President Maithripala Sirisena and also appointed him as the SLFP President.

MPs S.B. Nawinne, Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa, Piyasena Gamage, Reginold Cooray, Dr Sarath Amunugama, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Athauda Seneviratne and North Western Province Chief Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara were among the group who met with Sirisena at his residence to pledge support.

Speaking at a press conference at Sirisena’s resident, Vijithamuni Soysa said that they took the decision when the SLFP Central Committee convened earlier today.   

The former Wildlife Minister stated that although they worked for the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the President of the party, he was defeated and the SLFP’s former General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena was victorious. 

Therefore a majority of SLFP Central Committee members decided to appoint Maithripala Sirisena as the party’s President while also appointing former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa as patrons of the party, he said.

Soysa said that MP Duminda Dissanayake has been appointed as Secretary of the SLFP while Janaka Banara Tennakoon has been named as the National Organiser. 

The group of MPs revealed that as per the clause 12 – 2 of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party constitution, if any person representing the party is elected as President, he automatically becomes the President of the party as well. 

The same thing happened when Mahinda Rajapaksa became the President of Sri Lanka, they said, in response constant questions from the media. 

Vijithamuni Soysa stated that a majority of the 55-member SLFP Central Committee have supported the decision and that they will support President Sirisena’s 100-day work programme.  

However, SLFP General Secretary MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says that 42 members of the Central Committee have reconfirmed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the party’s Chairman. 

Meanwhile, a parallel SLFP Central Committee meeting is reportedly underway at the Party headquarters in Colombo 10 and chaired by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.