He was speaking at a media briefing at the SLFP headquarters in Colombo yesterday (27).

Referring to a remark by Basil that the SLFP May Day rally at Samanala stadium in Galle was nothing but ‘a seminar for public servants’, Perera reminded him that as the then economic development minister, he had travelled in helicopters and spent Rs. 10 million to hold ‘a seminar for public servants’ at the same venue.

The party faced defeat due to such wastages and distributions of money which Basil had done by using powers of the then president, the state minister charged.

He admitted that Basil had bribed voters at the last presidential election by distributing money, and the posters, paste and even the ladders were taken to outstations from Colombo for the campaign.

Maithri says no internal crisis

Meanwhile, president Maithripala Sirsiena says there is no crisis within the SLFP, and what their responsibility will be to go forward as a party in accordance with the Bandaranaike policies.

He was speaking at a meeting with heads of media institutions yesterday.

MP Dullas Alahapperuma disagrees, saying that there are two factions in the SLFP, and says he finds nothing wrong in that.

Noting that SLFP politics is against the UNP, he says the Kirulapone May Day rally is being organized in accordance with that fact.

Also, ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa told the media on April 26 upon returning from a visit in Thailand that there was nothing wrong in groups belonging to a party holding separate rallies on May Day.

Meanwhile, Several SLFP MPs have requested the party leader, president Sirisena, permission for them to first attend the May Day rally in Galle, and then go to the joint opposition function at Kirulapone.

Related articles:

Basil to organize Rajapaksas’ May Day rally!

Dullas-led MPs oppose deals by Basil

Some SLFP MPs want to attend both rallies!