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Election Commission to suspend SLFP constitutional amendments?

15 Sep 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera   Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Executive Committee member Montague Sarachchandra has requested the Election Commission (EC) to suspend the implementation of the recent amendments made to the SLFP’s constitution until the verdict of the case filed in the Colombo District Court challenging the Chairmanship of former President and incumbent MP Maithripala Sirisena is delivered. In a letter addressed to Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa, Sarachchandra claimed that since the appointment of Sirisena as the SLFP Chairman is against the party’s constitution, he has filed a case, bearing number DSP/197/2022 in the Colombo District Court, requesting that an order be issued to suspend Sirisena’s appointment. He also said that the court, which had taken up the case, had ordered the respondents including Sirisena, SLFP General Secretary and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, SLFP Treasurer and State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and SLFP National Organiser Duminda Dissanayake to raise objections. Claiming that the respondents have delayed the submission of objections until 5 September, he said that the respondents had however amended the party’s constitution on 2 September.   Noting that the SLFP Chairman has the power to remove any official of the party, and that the number of appointments that the Chairman can make to the Central Committee of the Party has been increased to 35 through the relevant amendments, he said in the letter that it is apparent that Sirisena has gained unlimited powers through these amendments in order to take revenge on the party members who oppose him. Therefore, considering the matter, Sarachchandra, who is a former Central Committee member of the SLFP, requested Punchihewa to suspend the implementation of the relevant amendments to the SLFP’s constitution until the case filed in the Colombo District Court challenging Sirisena’s Chairmanship is over and the verdict is delivered, and to inform of the same to Jayasekara. According to the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, a recognised political party must notify the Election Commission of all amendments made to its office bearers or constitution within a period of 30 days from the implementation of the relevant amendment. Several amendments were implemented to the constitution of the SLFP recently, including a clause empowering the SLFP Chairman to remove any officer or member at their discretion. Despite the opposition of several members of the SLFP’s Parliamentary group such as Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mahinda Amaraweera, and MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, the amendments were passed in the SLFP Central Committee and its All-Ceylon Committee.


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