No action against SLPP dissidents as no ‘threat’

SLPP General Secretary and Government MP, attorney Sagara Kariyawasam, has stated that Parliamentarians who recently left the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and now serve as Opposition MPs do not pose a challenge to the Party. As a result, the SLPP has no intention of taking disciplinary action against these MPs.

 

 

In August 2022, several MPs previously part of the ruling SLPP informed the Speaker of Parliament that they would now function as "Independent" Opposition MPs.

 

 

When asked if the SLPP had taken any disciplinary action against these MPs, Kariyawasam replied that the party has yet to decide whether to take action. He explained that the Party does not perceive these MPs as a threat and sees no issues arising from their departure. Kariyawasam acknowledged that leaving the SLPP was detrimental to the MPs themselves. He added that while he could not predict the future, the current situation indicated that they were not a challenge for the Party.

 

 

Kariyawasam emphasized that the SLPP's affairs are proceeding successfully and that focusing on MPs who have left the party would be a waste of time. Although the MPs' departure violated Party discipline, he stated that the Party has more critical tasks to prioritize and dwelling on these matters would be unproductive.

 

 

The list of MPs who left the SLPP and now serve as Opposition MPs include former President Maithripala Sirisena, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Asanka Navarathna, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Prof. Charitha Herath, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Gevindu Cumaratunga, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Mohamed Muzammil, Nimal Piyatissa, Gamini Waleboda, A.L.M. Athaullah, Jayantha Samaraweera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, W.D. John Seneviratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Nimal Lanza, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Jayaratne Herath, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Duminda Dissanayake, Shan Wijayalal de Silva, Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala, and Angajan Ramanathan.