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Disciplinary action against Rathana Thera

21 Jun 2021

Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party [OPPP]) is set to take disciplinary action against Party member and National List MP Ven. Athuraliye  Rathana Thera soon, due to the Thera’s refusal to vacate his national list seat. OPPP National Organiser Dr. Susantha Kodithuwakku claimed last week that the Party had requested Rathana Thera to resign from his MP post, as per a Party agreement which stipulated that he (Rathana Thera) would resign after three months of being sworn in as a MP. However, Rathana Thera vehemently denies the existence of any agreement to that effect. Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning, Kodithuwakku said the party is extremely disappointed with the conduct of Rathana Thera in Parliament. “We took several collective decisions for the party recently but Rathana Thera betrayed us. As the OPPP, we had decided to vote against the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill. This was a collective decision. However, Rathana Thera voted in favour of the Bill.” He said that the recent fuel price hike controversy involving Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila was another occasion when Rathana Thera had acted contrary to the party’s stance. “Our Party opinion was against Gammanpila, and we agreed with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, who issued a statement on 12 June, demanding the resignation of the Minister of Energy over the increase in fuel prices. However Rathana Thera again acted of his own accord, signing a joint statement supporting Gammanpila. This was his personal opinion,” Kodithuwakku claimed. Leaders of eight constituent political parties of the Government issued a statement, denouncing the attempt to hold Minister Udaya Gammanpila solely responsible for the recent fuel price hike. The joint statement was signed by Rathana Thera, National Freedom Front Leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa, Democratic Left Front Leader Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Lanka Sama Samaja Party Leader Prof. Tissa Vitharana, National Congress Leader A.L.M. Athaulla, Communist Party of Sri Lanka Leader Dr. G. Weerasinghe, United People's Party Leader Tiran Alles, and Asanka Nawarathne of the Sri Lanka People’s Party. Kodithuwakku said that the Party had already sent a letter last week requesting Rathana Thera to step down and vacate the seat to allow Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera to enter Parliament, while the latter had also made a personal request to this effect. “We had to make a choice during the last General Election period, according to the Election rules. Therefore, we had no choice but to nominate Rathana Thera. However, the Party came to a written agreement with Rathana Thera that he would remain in the seat as an MP for only three months. Now it’s been almost six months; it is time for Rathana Thera to resign and hand over his Parliamentary status to Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera,” Kodithuwakku said. However speaking to The Morning, Rathana Thera said: “Nobody from the Party called me or sent me a letter in this regard. Neither do we have such an agreement as claimed above. Therefore, I will remain in the MP seat.”  Rathana Thera was sworn in to Parliament on 5 January 2021.


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