Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) decision not to allow its District Leaders to participate in the discussion headed by the President at 5.30 pm yesterday (12) has led to a serious political crisis, political sources said.

The President had called the Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and the District Leaders of the SLPP for the meeting to discuss the future programme of the government.

The President’s office said that the purpose of this discussion was to discuss how to ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), what steps should be taken against the current opposition to the privatization of institutions such as SLT, and how to find answers to the issues prevailing in the country.

However, none of the district leaders including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Johnsaton Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Sanath Nishantha, S.M. Chandrasena and others attended this event.

Sources said the main reason for boycotting this meeting was the move to disregard the requests made by former President Rajapaksa and SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa to give ministerial positions to the SLPP district leaders on four previous occasions.

With regard to this meeting called by the President, the SLPP had previously said the President can call the Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers, etc for a meeting but he cannot call for SLPP district leaders without proper procedure.

The party had expressed its regret for arranging such a meeting.

Party sources said that calling the district leaders of the SLPP to a meeting through the President’s Office is unacceptable.

Accordingly, the party’s internal sources said that the party decided not to allow district leaders to attend the meeting.

Source – The Leader