Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)Vice President Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa stated yesterday that the SLFP has not decided to leave the government.
When asked if it was reasonable that SLFP leaders, including former President Maithripala Sirisena have been attacking the government, even issuing veiled threats to it recently, Prof. Piyadasa said that the SLFP’s persistence with the government does not mean that the country is not experiencing a growing crisis.
“The people, party members, and supporters are putting heavy pressure on the SLFP leadership to exit the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna-led coalition government,” he explained.
When it was pointed out that several Pohottuwa (SLPP) ministers had also asked SLFP members to leave the government, Prof.Piyadasa stated that before asking the other to leave, one should first evaluate whether the SLPP-led government had maintained a genuine relationship with the coalition parties.
“During this government’s tenure, the SLPP did not hold a single meeting with all of its Coalition Partners,” he stated.
They have been causing unneeded political tensions from the beginning of this regime.”
“In addition, the SLFP, as a prominent political Party, believes it bears several responsibilities to the public.”
“It anticipates how a political climate like this might prepare the way for the ascent of some unknown individuals to the political realm, enveloping the two big political Parties, like in Romania,” he said. “If we split from the SLPP, the government will continue with the rest of the alliance.” But the last thing we want to see is the country devolve into anarchy,” he continued. “These politicians who yell “get out” at us don’t seem to realize that such currents might turn against the country,” he explained. When asked if he had anything to say about the way the government has managed the COVID vaccination programme, given that even the Opposition has praised its success and whether they thought it was worthwhile for them to support the government now that the country is facing an economic crisis due to the same, he said the SLFP would be happy if the government did its best to reduce prices of essential goods such as fuel and cement, among other things.
“The SLFP expects the government to rule by example. There is no point in asking the public to tighten their belts while they go about roaming abroad having fun on holidays with their families,” he added.
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