A shameful attempt to strengthen SLFP Medamulana Faction -SLFP(M)
(LeN- 2007 Sep 22, 3.00pm)
Our reiteration that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, founded by the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, as well as the entire country have been invaded by the Rajapaksa Brothers Company, has been proven correct once again. Just days after the death of young Deputy Minister Anwar Ismail of the Muslim National Congress, the President has appointed his younger brother Basil Rajapaska to Parliament on the National List, thereby exposing the reality of our allegations against the Medamulana Faction.
With the SLFP falling victim to the machinations of the Medamulana Faction, a grave injustice has been done to our supporters and political parties supporting us. Even earlier, we pointed out that all functions of our party as well as the government are today aimed at satisfying and nurturing the Rajapaksa Brothers Company.
It is no secret that Basil Rohana Rajapaksa, a brother of the President who is ruling our party today, is a person who had abandoned our party in the 1980s and subjected our party as well as its supporters to severe harassment. This appointment, made by hoodwinking other affiliate parties of the Alliance in complete disregard of many others who have served our party for decades amidst numerous sufferings and are more suited to become a parliamentarian, is an act of nepotism by a ruler who has become inebriated
with power.
Further, this action of nepotism has completely violated all basic agreements of the United People's Freedom Alliance. This appointment is a
breach of the UPFA Constitution. The UPFA Constitution clearly spells out the measures that should be taken in the event of a MP position falling vacant. Its paragraph 9.3 states that when the position of a member nominated to Parliament, a Provincial Council or a Pradeshiya Sabha by the UPFA falls vacant, the General Secretary of the UPFA should send the name of a person nominated by the party to which the earlier member belonged, to the Elections Commissioner, the Elections Commission or the respective Returning Officers.
It was at the preliminary round of talks by leaders of the Alliance in the run up to the General Election of April 02nd, 2004 that agreement was reached to grant the Muslim National Congress a National List MP position.
Only the Muslim National Congress of Minister Athualla has the right to nominate a person to fill the vacancy created following the death of Mr. Anwar Ismail. It is against the Constitution of the Alliance to grant this position, of which the Muslim National Congress is the rightful owner, to some other person. Even the Muslim leaders of the East are today keeping silence over this matter. That is because they fear the Medamulana political culture.
This appointment is not only a breach of the UPFA Constitution, it is also an act that demonstrates the communalistic face of the SLFP Medamulana Faction. To a National List MP position allotted for the Muslim community,
the Medamulana Faction leader has appointed his own brother. This is history repeating itself. The former President appointed the late Lakshman
Kadirgamar to Parliament from the National List as a representative of the Tamil community. When the position fell vacant following his death, it was filled by the 'Chief Clerk' of the Medamulana Faction and a relative of the
incumbent president, Dallas Alahapperuma. This is a clear indication of the Medamulana Faction's "concerns" for the minorities.
Due to the abovementioned factors, we vehemently condemn the appointment of Basil Rohana Rajapaksa. We earnestly request in brotherhood SLFP supporters and others who love our party to rally against the Medamulana Faction which keeps on destroying the very basic of the SLFP policies day by day. We also appeal to the masses to take the lead against the despotic rule of the Rajapaksa Brothers Company which is inciting chauvinism, curtailing the rights of the minorities and taking the country to destruction.
