Fate of SLFP rebels delayed

The Central Committee of the SLFP is yet to meet to decide on disciplinary action against two of its members Anura Bandaranaike and Wijedasa Rajapakse who crossed over to the Opposition in Parliament during the Budget debate earlier this month, even as Mr. Bandaranaike continues to occupy the official residence ‘Visumpaya.’

The reason for the delay is because several members of the CC are out of the country at the moment and the Committee will meet only on their return, senior SLFP member Minister John Seneviratne said. Asked if Mr.Bandaranaike would re-join the Government, Minister Seneviratne said it could not be a one-sided decision and the President must agree to accept Mr.Bandaranaike back.“I spoke to the President regarding Mr.Bandaranaike and said that he had been misled but the President is unhappy with him and has no confidence in him,” the Minister said.

He added that the President finds it hard to believe that Mr.Bandaranaike could be misled so easily as he has been in politics for so many years and is an experienced politician. If Mr. Bandaranaike sat in the Opposition thinking the Government is going to lose, it shows that he has no loyalty to the party, the President had told Minister Seneviratne.

Mr.Bandaranaike remains non-contactable to the media since the day of the Budget and had planned an official visit to Myanmar during this period.