Leader of the Youth Front of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Shantha Bandara announced that the 66th anniversary of the SLFP would be celebrated on September 02 under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, to which, all members of the Joint Opposition (JO) were cordially invited.

The former parliamentarian extended the open invitation upon addressing a press conference of the SLFP Youth Front today (19).

He also urged everyone to work towards strengthening the SLFP as a party, regardless of whatever differences they may have regarding the ‘Yahapalanaya’ regime.

He recalled how Sirimavo Bandaranaike, during her regime, had safeguarded the party with just six members in the face of all sorts of obstacles, and accordingly proceeded to declare that the party would not be allowed to fall apart regardless of any and all obstacles that may be thrown in the way.

Meanwhile, executive committee member Deputy Minister Manusha Nanayakkara who also attended the press conference stated that the SLFP had been instrumental in taking the decision to bring together two parties to create a national coalition government.

Nanayakkara further mentioned that neither party had possessed the capability to establish a government on their own after the 2015 presidential election, and added that the President had given leeway for all those who opposed the creation of a coalition government to leave the party and join the Opposition.

In an attempt to shed light on the status quo, he then proceeded to add that certain individuals were now exploiting the freedom that was then extended to them, and were now attempting to form new parties whilst destroying the SLFP in the process.