Maithri told SLFP not to cause any embarrassment to govt. – Amaraweera

By Ifham Nizam

Former President Maithripala Sirisena did not make any statement during or after the two meetings of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that he would leave the government when the time became opportune, a senior party member said.

Fielding questions at a media briefing held at the Environment Ministry, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said referring to the statement attributed to former President and Chairman of the SLFP on quitting the government if necessary at a meeting in Puttalam, was not clear.  

Minister said: “I also saw the news. It was mentioned at a meeting held in Puttalam that such a statement had been made. But before that I attended both meetings in Galle and Ratnapura, where the former President also participated. But I did not attend the Puttalam meeting. However, at the two meetings I attended, the former President did not comment on it.

However, he said that he didn’t know whether such a thing was said in Puttalam.

“Also, our party had a weekly group discussion even yesterday. Even there the former President did not express such an idea. He told us yesterday that the SLFP should not take any decision that would embarrass the government and strengthen the Opposition,”

Amaraweera said that although they had many issues that needed to be resolved, they could be resolved through discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“During the recent discussion with the President, he talked with us for nearly two and a half hours. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is the second largest party in the ruling coalition. Our party is the only party with organisational strength in every district throughout the country. We have made a tremendous contribution to ensuring the stability of this government. Therefore, we have no intention of leaving the government, the Minister said.