Kumaratunge declines life presidency of SLFP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 September 2005, 11:00 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge has turned down the decision Central Committee and the All Island Executive Committee of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to make her life president of the party stating that will tarnish SLFP's image as a dictatorial party, SLFP sources said.

The Central Committee and the All Island Executive Committee met Sunday and decided to make Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge, life president of the SLFP at its 54 annual convention held on Tuesday in recognition of services she rendered to the party.

When senior leaders of the party conveyed the decision to her she declined to accept the position. She said the SLFP has been a democratic party from the outset and there has never been a life President of the party at any time of its history.

"I have always believed in democracy. I prefer to accept the post of President or any other post of the party only through a vote by the membership," Ms Kumaratunge is reported to have told the party's senior leaders.