 |
|
|
|
| News Stories |
|
|
|
Home Mail2Lanka News Sports World Previous Stories |
Pathirana resigns saying PA return to power looks bleak by Kesara Abeywardena October 25 Island: SLFP stalwart from Galle district and former Leader of the House Richard Pathirana who locked horns with President Chandrika Kumaratunga recently has sent his resignation as the SLFP organiser of the Akmeemana electorate to party General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. In the 18 page resignation letter MP Pathirana has traced his history in the party which began under the leadership of late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The resignation letter has come as a reply to a show cause letter dated October 15, by SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena. He had inquired about a telephone conversation that had taken place between the two where Pathirana had expressed his hope to resign as the SLFP organiser of his electorate Akmeemana. The strongly worded letter takes several swipes at President Kumaratunga at the same time mentioning his companionship with the President at the time of the formation of the People’s Alliance and the subsequent victory in 1994. He speaks about disillusionment that stepped in with their inability to achieve most expectations during the PA regime and says that nothing could be achieved in the country without ushering in peace first. "We should support Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to bring peace to the country... I beleive that as a principle of the PA we should support a conscience vote for MPs," he had said. He adds that the first PA government which only had a majority of one lasted a full term but the second PA government which had a majority of 13 lasted only 11 months. He also expresses his displeasure on not appointing SLFP stalwart Alavi Moulana, LSSP General Secretary, Batty Weerakoon and MEP member Geethanjana Gunawardena as national list MPs of the PA. Explaining the reason for his resignation Pathirana states: "To work for a political party there should be a reason and that is that it will return to power. To work as an organiser there should be the hope that the party will come to power quickly. But I do not see that the PA will return to power in the near future. So I have decided to resign as the SLFP chief organiser of the Akmeemana electorate." Pathirana was named by President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a public meeting recently as a person who will join the UNP. The names of Messrs, A. H. M. Fowzie and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle were also mentioned by the President. (24/10/02 go2lanka.com) |