Campaign to oust Nimal as Opp Leader gathers momentum
March 30, 2015, 7:41 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Declaring that the on-going bring-back-Mahinda campaign is on track, three UPFA constituents yesterday said that they had obtained Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s consent to function independently.
Democratic Left Front (DLF) leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara and National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa emphasised that they wouldn’t cooperate with Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva under any circumstances.
They said that securing Speaker Rajapaksa’s consent was in line with their overall strategy to pave the way for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s return to electoral politics.
Addressing the media at Abhayaramaya, Narahenpita, they said that MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena was also in their camp, though he couldn’t attend the briefing.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya was represented by Western Provincial Council member Udaya Gammanpila.
Responding to a media query, MP Nanayakkara said that as they had received Speaker Rajapaksa’s approval to operate on their own there couldn’t be any dispute over their right. “We aren’t with Nimal Siripala’s group.”
MP Weerawansa said that they strongly opposed Nimal Siripala de Silva remaining the Opposition Leader after a section of SLFP members of parliament accepted cabinet portfolios. Altogether the SLFP received 26 cabinet, state minister and deputy minister positions. Nimal Siripala de Silva couldn’t be allowed under any circumstances to continue in the Opposition Leader’s post as long as the SLFP served Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration. Similarly, the JVP and the TNA couldn’t be accepted as the genuine Opposition as long as they served the National Executive Council (NEC) headed by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Weerawansa said that having accepted their legitimate request to function independently in parliament, Speaker Rajapaksa paved the way for Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Wimal Weerawansa to receive front-row seats in parliament. Provision had been also made for them to make special statements as leaders of political parties represented in parliament, he said.
The NFF leader said that of those members of parliament strongly opposed to Nimal Siripala de Silva’s disputable role both in and outside parliament, 58 signed a petition seeking MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena as the Opposition Leader. According to MP Weerawansa more members would join the group before the petition was to be handed over to Speaker Rajapaksa within the next two weeks.
MP Weerawansa explained that they had Speaker Rajapaksa’s agreement in writing.
The NFF leader said that President Maithripala Sirisena should dissolve parliament on April 23 as repeatedly promised in the run-up to the Jan. 8 presidential poll. MP Weerawansa warned that their rally scheduled to be held at Kurunegala on April 25 in support of bring-back-Mahinda campaign would be transformed into the first mega rally against the new administration. Weerawansa emphasized that they wouldn’t be intimidated by government tactics and go ahead with planned action.
MEP representative at the briefing Somaweera Chandrasiri asserted that the former President Rajapaksa wouldn’t be able to keep away from the massive May Day rally planned by the joint Opposition. With over 100 trade unions already pledging their support to their May Day parade, there was great likelihood of Rajapaksa joining the gathering.
Courtesy:
Smart Patriots Sri Lanka 