Basil-Wimal rift deepens: No room for factions within the Government !

 

It is reported that SLPP national organiser Basil Rajapaksa has expressed his concerns regarding the behaviour of certain people during the Colombo Port's East Container Terminal (ECT) issue.

 

Stressing the importance of working as a cohesive unit, he has informed the President that no room should be allowed for those trying to create different factions within the government.

 

The Leader of the National Freedom Front and Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa had invited leaders of 10 political parties affiliated to the ruling coalition to discuss the possibility of taking action against a cabinet paper on the sale of the East Container Terminal.

 

It is reported that Basil Rajapaksa has requested the President to instruct the nationalist groups including Minister Wimal Weerawansa to refrain from forming separate factions in the government.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa had invited the Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dayasiri Jayasekera, Leader of the Democratic Left Front Vasudeva Nanayakkara, General Secretary of Lanka Sama Samaja Party Prof. Tissa Vitharana, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka  Dr. G. Weerasinghe, Leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party Asanka Navaratne and Leader of the United People's Party Tiran Alles for discussions regarding the sale of the ECT.

 

It was widely reported that certain ministers of the government including Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Prasanna Ranatunga and Rohitha Abeygunawardena had admonished the group led by Wimal Weerawansa with regard to their conduct during the ECT issue.

 

However, at a recent press conference, Minister Wimal Weerawansa shot back at critics by stating that constituent parties of the ruling coalition have a role to play within the government without being political slaves to any one faction.