Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said the freshly signed Memorandum of Understanding with Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa is vital for his party to move forward in the upcoming presidential run. He said they are hopeful the candidate will honour his promise because despite ‘being a Rajapaksa he was not a politician’.
The MoU between the SLFP and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) presidential candidate Rajapaksa was sealed at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort yesterday (19).
This comes a week after the two parties signed a separate MoU to form an alliance to contest under one banner.
Jayasekara told the Sunday Observer that they have discussed several issues identified prior to supporting the SLPP and added it was important to guarantee that candidate Rajapaksa and the SLFP principals were aligned, especially as the latter had the support of Tamil and Muslim voters.
“We want him (Rajapaksa) to continue the vision of our leader Maithripala Sirisena,” Jayasekara said explaining that their special concern was directed at the anti-drug campaign, wildlife conservation, a democratic rule and limiting the Cabinet to 30, selected on a scientific basis.
“We also want the rights of all SLFP members to be protected,” he said. SLFP members have voiced concern for the party’s identity. The MoU seeks to resolve all concerns. Responding to this, spokesman for Rajapaksa, MP Keheliya Rambukwella said they have not let down MoUs, and agreements have always been ‘realised’ and ‘given importance’. “Any MoU is important and should be given due place,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) pledged its support to Rajapaksa at the coming presidential race by signing an MoU with the SLPP on Friday (18). The agreement was signed by SLPP Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris and CWC leader MP Arumugam Thondaman after considering key demands made by the Up Country Tamil voters.
Prof. Peiris said Rajapaksa has assured to increase plantation workers’ daily wage to Rs.1000.