President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has sacked 13 members of the SLFP central Committee, according to party sources.
President Maithripala Sirisena
According to sources former Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne and SLFP Senior Vice President Janaka Bandara Tennekoon are among those who have been sacked.
According to sources the President has appointed 13 new members to the SLFP CC with newly appointed SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake.
On Saturday the President suspended the party membership of Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Susil Premajayanth.
The President had informed them in writing that their memberships will be suspended due to engaging in activities not confirming to the policies of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
Accordingly, both Susil Premajayanth and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, who were removed from their respective general secretary posts of the SLFP and UPFA yesterday, were automatically removed from the central committee of the party, as well.
In addition, Premajayanth was removed from the post of national organizer of the SLFP. Both Yapa and Premajayanth has denied the accusation and the UPFA Executive Committee has refused to accept the newly appointed Secretary Dr.Wiswa Warnapala.
The Rajapaksa faction within the SLFP has described the move as one which was instigated with the aim of taking control of appointing SLFP members t parliament through the national list.
They have described this as another attempt to deny former President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Premiership if UPFA secures a clear majority at today’s poll.
Meanwhile advocates of good governance and democracy opine that the move as well as its timing cast doubts on Sirisena’s commitment to doing things differently after disposing Mahinda Rajapaksa as President.
‘He is acting as though he is owns the party in the first place. Also, these highhanded moves have come at a time when his party is in the midst of an election. Finally, it raises suspicion that Sirisena’s thinking is dominated by antipathy to Rajapaksa rather than the affirming of democratic principles and spirit,’ a long standing democracy advocate who wished to remain anonymous told Colombo Telegraph.
*Note – An earlier version of this story said the President sacked 25 members of the SLFP central Committee and appointed new 25 members. The latest is that the President has only expelled 13 CC members. He has appointed 13 new members to the CC.
Sadith / August 17, 2015
Seems like this man is digging his own grave. I am sure chandrika is helping in his effort.
/
Navaratna Bandara / August 17, 2015
Postal Votes, exit results “from a credible source”.
Badulla District
UNP 71%
UPFA 19%
JVP 6%
others 4%
Anuradahapura
UNP 60%
UPFA 32%
JVP 5%
others 3%
Batticaloa
UNP 36%
TNA 27%
SLMC27%
UPFA 5%
others 5%
Monaragala District
UNP 49%
UPFA 40%
JVP 7%
others 4%
Vanni District
UNP 32%
TNA 30%
SLMC 27%
JVP 5%
UPFA 4%
Trincomalee District
UNP 71%
TNA 23%
UPFA 2%
JVP 3%
others 1%
Polonnaruwa District
UNP 59%
UPFA 35%
JVP 4%
others 2%
Gampaha District
UNP 69%
UPFA 22%
JVP 6%
others 3%
Digamadulla District
UNP 78%
UPFA 11%
TNA 9%
others 2%
Kegalle District
UNP 67%
UPFA 28%
JVP 3%
Others 2%
Puttalama District
UNP 73%
UPFA 22%
JVP n others 5%
Jaffna District
TNA 63%
UNP 23%
EPDP 7%
UPFA 4%
others 3%
Kurunegala District
UNP 47%
UPFA 36%
JVP 9%
DP 5%
Others 3%
Ratnapura District
UNP 56%
UPFA 39%
JVP 4%
others 1%
Colombo District
UNP 69%
UPFA 23%
JVP 6%
others 2%
/
bushan / August 18, 2015
Credible may be but not very accurate UPFA marginal victory in ratnapura district, UNP 48% ,UPFA 27% in trincomalee distric, in postal voting
/
TikiriBanda / August 18, 2015
Here is the official result for Ratnapura postal votes from Daily Mirror. So you are spewing garbage
United People’s Freedom Alliance 11367 49.46%
United National Party 9673 42.09%
/
TikiriBanda / August 18, 2015
Polonnaruwa POSTAL
United National Party 8454 57.45%
United People’s Freedom Alliance 5031 34.19%
People’s Liberation Front 1173 7.97%
/
Afzal / August 17, 2015
Reflection of voting patterns here for comments is similar to results of general election. Clear winner is Yahapalanya Ali baby and 40 horu will go home tomorrow. Though Ali Baby will relinquish his MP post.
What can he do without the 40 horu ?
/
Saro / August 17, 2015
Democracy is very nice to hear and talk about, how can it be compatible with auticratic leaders of the like of Rajapaksas or Putins? They will destroy the democracy until checked by whatever means. Maithry has no choice other than politically eliminate the ruthless leader like Mahinda and his cohorts. He has a duty to protect himself and the country.
/
Analyst / August 18, 2015
Saro. You are spot on . Sirisena has the responsibility to present our country in the world arena as a democratic law abiding nation .
For him the country should be first as the Leader of this Nation and his religion and his party comes second and third.
We do not want to be the Pariahs of the world.
Well done for Sirisena for taking our country forward in a civilised manner.
The thugs and murderers gave a bad image of our country.
We should be able to walk with head high .
Our President was able to travel to the western countries as a respected Leader unlike the past President who was chased away from UK before he addressed the Oxford University Debate.
Aneh how JARRAI,, our JARAPASSA was chased away along with his bodyguards war criminals.
/
David / August 18, 2015
[Edited out]
/
Real Sri lankan / August 18, 2015
Clean out starts.
sri lanka becomes clean country.
/
punchinilame / August 18, 2015
MS had to do things in keeping with what is opposing the January Revolution moving
forward. He is being ably assisted in the background by experts in the field –
Mangala, RW,CBK etc.
What MS did needs no precedence in politics. (Adam & Eve did not have precedence to
whatever they did!)
/
TikiriBanda / August 18, 2015
DEVINUWARA electorate where Ranil’s handmaiden was the candidate
United People’s Freedom Alliance 29,565 53.04%
United National Party 21,187 38.01%
People’s Liberation Front 4,711 8.45%
/
K.A Sumanasekera / August 18, 2015
UNP is only 5 000 votes in front after Jaffna, Batti , Trino & Galle which is really a SLMC territory.
Batalanda Ranil won’t be able to shaft our poor Sinhala Buddhists who are the great majority, even with the blessings of Bodhi Sira , CBK and Mangalan.
I am off to work to earn a quid..
/
Native Vedda / August 18, 2015
KASmaalam K.A Sumanasekera
“Batalanda Ranil won’t be able to shaft our poor Sinhala Buddhists”
The years they spent being shafted by MR and his cronies is more than enough for the rest of their life.
Didn’t they really have a good time? They did.
/
Girigoris / August 18, 2015
Well said Native,may be Sumana needs a bigger shaft the more the bigger the more merrier and satisfaction for him and his clan.
/
punchinilame / August 18, 2015
AFP News: “Sri Lanka’s former president Mahinda Rajapakse told AFP Tuesday that he had conceded defeat in parliamentary elections, but he will work as an opposition member of parliament.
“My dream of becoming prime minister has faded away,” Rajapakse told AFP. “I am conceding. We have lost a good fight.
Around half of the results of the 2015 General Election has been released at the present.
It is predicted that the UNP will secure 104 seats while the UPFA will secure around 82 seats.”
/
Point of View / August 18, 2015
My dream of becoming prime minister has faded away,” Rajapakse told AFP.
We all knew it was only a DREAM !
/
Matilda Ellepola / August 18, 2015
Sirisena a Dictator? Seriously?
Out of this 13 CC members was a known chain snatcher from Kalutara who used to try his trade on CGR trains and first of all these thiefs should not have appointed at first place.
My3 did the right thing is kickout these rogues and clean up the place.
/
Sylvia Haik / August 24, 2015
At least those 13 got out with their lives still intact. If it was by the previous lot, they would have been abducted, beaten up, murdered and disappeared.
/
Navin / August 18, 2015
CT you had made a praiseworthy contribution to chasing away the marauding murdering pillaging plundering raping Medamulana Gang. However that does not give you a free pass to malign Maithripala Sirisena the President.
If you feel compelled to write the scurrilous comments of the Medamulana coolies, you also should feel compelled to disclose the names of those mfkrs who said: “Meanwhile advocates of good governance and democracy opine that the move as well as its timing cast doubts on Sirisena’s commitment to doing things differently after disposing Mahinda Rajapaksa as President.” To carry such a comment on CT was ungracious to say the least.
President Sirisena has acted with great restraint, foresight and love for our motherland. He should be celebrated, not screwed. Do not descend to the level of some gossip sites. KEEP THIS IN MIND for the next five years.
/
Lankaputhra / August 18, 2015
Thanks God and My3 for not having DJ & RW in next parliament….? A collective sigh of relief from all CT readers here.
/
Navin / August 18, 2015
Yes, thank God for that. Amen Amen Amen.
/
Upali Wickramasinghe / August 19, 2015
May be that we will see Dr. Dayan with Ranil on the same platform soon.
/
Navin / August 20, 2015
CT readers are eagerly looking forward to farting at idol worshippers Dayan’s and Rajiva’s first Articles after the election massacre of their deities.
I had the misfortune to watch Rajiva’s ranting on an Al Jazeera program yesterday. It was nauseating.
More seriously, regardless of freedom of speech issues, when phd [Edited out] consciously utter false hoods, to deliberately aid and assist thieves murderers, and rapists, that’s the time citizens should mercilessly shaft them (apologies, Sumane!).
/
EDWIN RODRIGO / August 18, 2015
First we had many complaining that MS is backboneless. Now we have perhaps the same people complaining that he is a dictator.
It is good if MS imposes a dictatorship on his party. Good for him, good for the party, good for you and me and most of all good for the country. This is a party that has been thoroughly prostituted by its former leader MR. Someone has to start the difficult task of cleaning it up. After all, we need a credible alternative to UNP in this country. Being a dictator to one’s party is in a way a good thing as long as the leader has the right objectives. It does not mean that he will be a dictator to the country. In either case as long as the leader acts within the relevant rules it is good.
MS has played a very interesting chess game and managed to ‘check’ MR. Let us hope that the ‘check’ will become ‘checkmate’.
/
Analyst / August 18, 2015
Hooray I can walk with head high with the knowledge that we have a civilised honest respectable President to lead us. Thank goodness. Good luck SL.
/
Gobba / August 18, 2015
UNP has a lot of work to do. Get the economy going, businessess are really suffering due to the political instability. They have NOT reached the RURAL masses, UNP vote base amongst that segment is shocking. Do not DO ANY SHADY DEALS, no corruption, keep a tight leash on the ones that may try to help friends and for monetary benefits.
/
Pasuwardana / August 18, 2015
To say the least , MY3 actions are in bad taste. In time to come he will reap what he sow.
/
B Mackka / August 18, 2015
In retrospect you have to admit that this was a well timed strategic move. Cheers to our humble President, Maithripala Sirisena, the man of our times.
UPFA supporters thank God that he is Chairman and will be able to get clean the party of Ethanol Mudalalis, Drug Mudalalis, Rogues, Rapist, Thieves, Killers and Murderers.
/
Naga / August 18, 2015
Appearances are deceptive and a good example is Maithri. This man is a silent assassin and silent assassins are most dangerous. He is no doubt a dictator as his actions since last Friday clearly demonstrated.
His talk about yahapalanaya is a boro show.
Despite all Maithri’s schemings and under-cuttings the UPFA electoral team led by Mahinda had done well in the just concluded general election despite many odds. This spiteful man should immediately vacate the leadership of SLFP/UPFA and leave someone from the Mahinda faction to lead the party and the alliance.
Right or wrong, majority of the Sri Lankans have placed their faith in UNP and Maithri should leave Ranil to elect his cabinet without forcing him to form a national government. TNA has already promised to support UNP and let these two parties form a coalition government if UNP still falls short of a majority on its own. TNA may be even prepared to support a UNP government from outside without joining the cabinet.
From now onwards he should become a nominal head of state. Let Mahinda and his colleagues sit in the opposition and ensure that Ranil and Cabinet are held to account. This is very essential in order to ensure that Sri Lanka does not become a running dog of the Americans.
/
Sylvia Haik / August 18, 2015
I admire the way Mahinda Rajapakse had conceded defeat, also in January. The Rajapakses have the capacity to cause mayhem, as they did throughout their decade of rule, but thankfully they didn’t now. My friends were stocking up on essentials in their larder expecting a riot and shortages.
/
Mervyn Silva / August 18, 2015
Well done. People like that third grade Professor Nanny Peiris deserves this treatment.
/
Ebola da Silava / August 19, 2015
nanny peiris is he actually a missy nanny?
/
Jayasingha / August 18, 2015
If not for Sirena’s backstabbing of the campaign leader of his own party SLFP/ UPFA would have got the required majority to form a govt. This time too Ranil will piggyback on others to be PM. Sirisena will offer bribes to his UPFA /SLFP national list MP,S to join UNP govt. These national list MP,s did nothing for the MR lead team to achieve 83 +seats and they shamelessly are going to sit with the UNP. None of the elected UPFA mp,s must join the govt after working so hard and honestly for the party. They must remain in the opposition to ensure a vibrant parliament for the good of the country and good governance.
/
Ebola da Silava / August 19, 2015
jayasinghe, Are you mad? ” Sirisena’s backstabbing” ask Mangaala, Sripathy,Lasantha, Ekneligoda
/
Siri de Alwis / August 19, 2015
We are very sad to notice that there were almost 600.000 rejected votes.
Are Sri Lankans that much uneducated?
Cyril
/
maalumiris / August 20, 2015
I will eat my hat (which is still to be purchased), if we see that the Executive Presidency is abolished !!!
/
Jayasingha / August 22, 2015
Yes I also don’t think so. There is no mechanism for accountability and responsibility to ensure that this is implemented in the SLFP /UNP MOU which was signed yesterday. MS and Ranil are taking the people for a ride. MOU’s are not worth the paper they are written on.
/
Jaye / August 22, 2015
When it comes to Party matters Sirisena the party chief acts like a dictator. When it comes to good governance in the country Sirisena the executive president is deaf and blind ( CB bond issue)
/
Joseph / August 24, 2015
Sirisena as the leader must take the blame for SLFP/UPFA not getting a majority. His strategy of getting the SLFPers to join the govt and also the open remarks to say that MR will lose and will be not appointed PM even if the party wins took the wind out of the sails of true SLFPers who may even have not gone to vote. It must be accepted by all SLFP/UPFA MPs who were elected that the fiery speeches of Wimal, Dinesh , Udaya etc helped in no uncertain terms for people to vote for the UPFA and give preferences to SLFP and also other alliance candidates. It is not right for Sirisena to now give step motherly treatment to other alliance MPs who have been elected and also to other alliance members in the national list. Sirisena must realize that despite his treachery these other alliance members did their utmost for the party and as a result was able to get this amount of seats in parliament. Finally these defeated SLFPers lost because they were not faithful to the party.
/
Sylvia Haik / August 28, 2015
If this is the best they can come up with to criticise Maithripala Sirisena, then we have nothing to fear.
/