Breakaway SLPP faction demands early election

Party Chairman leads 13-member group

By Saman Indrajith

SLPP Chairman Prof GL Peiris told Parliament yesterday that he and 12 other MPs of the SLPP reform group would join the opposition ranks.

Making a special statement with the permission from the Chair, the former minister said that the 13 MPs would sit on the opposition side and function as an independent group.

The group comprises Prof Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dilan Perera, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Prof. Charitha Herath, Prof. Channa Jayasumana, K.P.S. Kumarasiri, Dr. Gunapala Ratnasekera, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Tilak Rajapaksa, Lalith Ellawela, Udayana Kirindigoda and Upul Galappatti.

Prof. Peiris said: “Sri Lanka is facing a series of crises. This is nothing new to Sri Lanka. We have managed to face them all including the civil conflict, the tsunami, and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said during all those periods Sri Lanka had a strong parliament that represented the mandate of the people. “Unfortunately, today we do not have that strength,” Prof Peiris said.

Prof Peiris said that public opinion no longer was represented in the House. “There is a clear disparity on what the people want and what is represented in the parliament. The promises and pledges made to the people back in 2020 ahead of the Parliamentary Elections, are not being fulfilled. The SLPP supporters’ aspirations have been destroyed,” he said.

Prof Peiris said that the government in power today was doing the complete opposite of what it promised during the election campaign. “The social contract between the people and their elected representatives is a core factor in parliamentary democracy. If that social contract is eroded or destroyed, the democratic way of life cannot be revived.”

“If the people demand an election, then that right must be ensured. Withholding that right in fear of defeat is unacceptable,” Prof Peiris said.