Former UPFA Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama who launched his new political party “Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya” on Friday, said the main reason which paved the way to form the new political party was the arbitrary decisions by the SLFP Leader and the General Secretary without any consent of the SLFP Central Committee and the conduct of the Government. He said there is no future at all for the SLFP under its present leadership.
The SLFP veteran told the Sunday Observer that SLFP Leader Maithripala Sirisena and General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara do whatever they wish without consulting the Central Committee or party seniors. Today the SLFP looks like it is their property and they take wrong decisions. “We are not in a position to rectify those mistakes or capture the power of the SLFP.”
He said former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga safeguarded the SLFP formed by her father, the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Although the SLFP was protected until 2015, today it is in doldrums under the present leadership. The SLFP stalwart said he quit the SLFP in 2015 as a protest against Maithripala Sirisena’s betrayal of the party. To cover up his sins, the SLFP Leader Sirisena has joined hands with the SLPP. Some SLPP frontliners have resorted to criticise and ask not to vote for Maithripala Sirisena or his followers.
We saw even Minister Prasanna Ranatunga launching a scathing attack against Maithripala Sirisena and calling upon the people not to vote for him or anyone in his fold. Even after facing such humiliations, Maithripala Sirisena and his group have joined hands with the SLPP. Therefore, I decided to form a new political party.
MP Welgama said, “I have submitted documents to the Election Commissioner to register the new party ‘Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya’. I haven’t received a response from the Election Commission. As a General Election will be held in April, I decided to launch the new political party on Friday and I would act as the leader of the party.”
Welgama said the new party was formed with the blessings of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Now that we have launched our party, we would take the next logical steps soon. “If we want to topple this Government, we should join hands even with ‘Mahasona’. We should rally round with all in the Opposition.”
“I would contest the General Election from the Kalutara district. However, with whom or under what Alliance I should contest will be decided within the next few days. We should join hands with the common Opposition. We don’t have enough time at our disposal to consider fielding our candidates for all districts. We would join hands with any other stakeholder,” he said. Asked whether the Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya would join the Samagi Jana Balawegaya led by Sajith Premadasa, former MP Welgama said it is premature to comment on it.
Responding to media speculation that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will join the new party, Welgama said she would not join the party or hold any positions in it.
Former President Kumaratunga said that she has retired from politics and that she doesn’t want to re-embrace politics. However, she has extended her good wishes to the party.