Sri Lanka Freedom Party now really free
A political commentator told us that the 68th Anniversary assembly of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) marks an important juncture of its political history.
According to him, today the SLFP is a clean party which is capable of making a fresh start. By this time, all Rajapaksas have left the part. Unpredictable political jokers such as Dilan Perera and S. B. Dissanayake have joined Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. A rumour is spreading that Nimal Siripala De Silva, who was shaky before 2015 presidential too, will be joining with Podujana Peramuna.
Our friend the political critic told us that all who are going with Sri Lanka Podujana Party are entering to Rajapakse’s prison. All their political maneuvers will be controlled by the plans of the Rajapakse family. Opportunities within the party will be limited. Even to obtain one of such limited opportunities, they will have to be obedient slaves of Rajapakses.
Latest developments paved the way for a novel political vacuum. Former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranathunga and SLFP stalwart Kumar Welgama who participated at the assembly received a warm welcome from the audience. Leaders from younger generation such as Duminda Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Mahinda Amaraweera will have opportunities to emerge as future leaders. They should be intelligent enough to invest on the opportunities they have gained.
Opportunities are open for the newly appointed governors as well as social activists like Suren Raghawan, Rajitha Keerthi Tennakoon, Dhamma Dissanayake and advisers to SLFP Shiral lakthilake and Deepthi Kumara Gunaratne to come forward within the party using their talents.
This is a miraculous cleansing ever experienced by a political party in Sri Lanka. The cleansing spreads from top to bottom at rural level. SLFP and its affiliates should be competent enough to make use of this opportunity to bring a new generation of leaders to the political arena. New path is open for intellectuals to proceed for political leadership. Leadership must manage the paradigm shift to achieve good outcome.