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SLFP to join Ranil Government after U-turn

16 May 2022

  • Maithri announces change of stance
  • Meeting to discuss portfolios today
  • PM to meet other independent parties soon
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday (15) stated that it would support all correct decisions taken by the Government to resolve the current economic crisis in the country, and that it was willing to discuss the allocation of ministerial portfolios to SLFP MPs, two days after stating that it would neither be part of a government under the new Prime Minister, nor accept any portfolios. This was stated in a letter directed to newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (15) by former President and SLFP Chairman Maithripala Sirisena, in response to the letter sent by the Premier requesting the SLFP’s support for the Government in order to find solutions to the ongoing economic crisis. The letter requested an appointment with the Prime Minister for a party delegation to discuss the acceptance of portfolios in the Government, and this meeting is expected to be held this morning (16). Meanwhile, the SLFP cancelled the meeting of its politburo scheduled for yesterday evening, where these matters, among other things, were set to be discussed. Last Friday (13), Sirisena announced during a press briefing in Colombo that representatives of the SLFP had convened a meeting to decide whether or not to support newly appointed Wickremesinghe to form a government, and that the decision was to not accept any ministerial post and to not be a part of a government under Wickremesinghe. Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe has also invited the leaders of the 10 political parties that quit the Government to represent Parliament independently to discuss the current political situation in the country. In response, the relevant political parties have told the Prime Minister that an appointment would be sought following the meeting of their leaders yesterday evening (15). PM Wickremesinghe has also invited Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa to join hands with the Government. However, in response, Premadasa said the SJB, as a responsible Opposition, would support any correct decision taken by the new government pertaining to the country’s economy but that it would not be a part of the Government or accept any portfolios.


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