SLFP dissidents to launch new Party, SLFP(M)

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 19 June 2007, 10:16 GMT]
Former Sri Lanka's Foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, and former Port Development Minister, Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, in a press release issued Tuesday in Colombo, said they will be launching a new Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing), SLFP (M), at the "auspicious time at 10.00 AM on Friday the 22nd June 2007 by paying floral tribute at the Bandaranaike Samadiya at Horogolla."

Press release of SLFP (M)

The text of the private statement sent to the Speaker of the Parliament by Samaraweera follows:

Hon. Speaker
W.J.M. Lokubandara
Sri Lanka Parliament
Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

Hon. Speaker,

Sitting in the Opposition in Parliament and
Issuing a Private Statement

1. At the Parliamentary election held on 02 April 2004, I represented Matara district under the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and was elected to Parliament by the people.
2. The main coalition partner of the UPFA, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, has seen its principles and political philosophy betrayed by the present Government. They have rejected the party's centrist policies and are taking our country in an extreme direction.
3. We are totally opposed to this path of extremism and in order to protect the principles of the SLFP, Member of Parliament for Gampaha district Mr. Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi and I have decided to sit in the Opposition benches of Parliament as MPs of the UPFA. We shall represent the Mahajana Wing of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.
4. Therefore, I respectfully request that necessary arrangements be made for me to be given a seat in the Opposition according to my seniority in Parliament.
5. Furthermore, I wish to explain my political decision to my constituents and the people of Sri Lanka. I hereby request that arrangements be made for me to give a private statement in Parliament in the morning of June 20, 2007.

Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
sgd/ Mangala Samaraweera MP for Matara District
United People's Freedom alliance

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