One-time Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairperson Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga issued a strongly-worded letter to incumbent Party Chair President Maithripala Sirisena last Friday whilst a five-point communiqué signed by a representation of SLFP organisers requested a crisis meeting with Sirisena. In her letter, Kumaratunga claimed that the country was destroyed under the reign of terror from 2005 to 8 January, 2015 and as such, a large number of party members expressed their discontent over the issues that ravaged the SLFP post 26 October. She admonished Sirisena not to desert the SLFP by partnering with parties and groups that have been rejected by the people. She further added that she would not betray the vision and programme presented by the incumbent President after coming into power on 8 January, 2015 and expressed her hope of Sirisena providing leadership and guidance to the said programme. In the five-point communiqué submitted along with the letter, the SLFP dissidents pleaded with Sirisena to take leadership in safeguarding and giving priority to the identity of the SLFP, alerting him to the damage that can be caused to the party and the country by forming an alliance with racist groups. Lauding Sirisena for actions taken in the aftermath of the Bond Scam incident, the group however expressed their unwillingness to join the United National Party (UNP) pleading with Sirisena to take leadership in converting both the party and the country under a new socio-economic programme. Several pro-Kumaratunga SLFP organisers comprising Amarasiri Kuruwage (Rathgama SLFP Organiser), Thilak Waragoda (Kelaniya) Sarith Sandanayake (Eheliyagoda), Shantha Rathnayake (Kolonna), Lalith Mendis (Negombo), Sanjaya Siriwardene (Mirigama), U.G. Ariyathileke (Ajkmeemana), M.M.M. Amjad (Beruwala), and Ruwan Rajapaksa had signed the communiqué.