SLPP Crack Widens; 08 constituent parties stand by Gammanpila

COLOMBO (News 1st); 08 constituent parties of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have condemned the attempts being made to blame the Energy Minister for the fuel price hike.

In a joint statement, these constituent parties said the decision to increase fuel prices in the country was made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Cost of Living which was chaired by the President and attended by the Prime Minister.

They state that SLPP General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam in a statement holding Minister Udaya Gammanpila responsible for the 'unpopular decision' had placed the government in a very difficult position in the presence of the people.

It added that the statement made by the SLPP General Secretary challenging the decision made by the President and the Prime Minister raises concern among the public over divisions within the ruling party.

The constituent parties pointed out that such actions eventually lead to the collapse of the faith place in the government by the people.

The joint statement was issued by Venerable Athuraliye Rathana Thero from the Ape Janabala Party, Minister Wimal Weerawansa from the National Freedom Front, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara from the Democratic Left Front, (MP) Prof. Tissa Vitharana from Lanka Sama Samaja Party, (MP) A.L.M. Athaulla from the National Congress, Dr. G. Weerasinghe from the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Tiran Alles from the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and Asanka Nawarathne from the Sri Lanka People's Party.