The country needs a new Constitution that gives a true political solution to the North under a unitary state, SLFP National Youth Front (NYF) Chairman Shantha Bandra said.
He was speaking at a media conference yesterday at the SLFP headquarters.
Bandara accused the government of inaction to solve burning issues in the country.
“Without solving issues such as the Sena outbreak, the government is talking of a new Constitution,” he said.
He added that there is no proper compensation process for farmers. Ultimately, farmers will have to wait for years wasting time in the divisional secretariat and Govijana Sewa Department offices to receive compensation.
Speaking further on the new Constitution, he said the suggestions that they discussed at the committee level in Parliament are not available in the draft forwarded by the government recently.
“For instance, we suggested reducing the term of the Presidency to five years from the next Presidential Election, that is, after the term of the present President. But with the draft, it affects to the term of the present President also,” he said.
When asked about the political turmoil in the SLFP, Bandara answered that moves are underway under the guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena to strengthen the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to revive its past glory.
He said systematic approaches are being launched under the directive of the President to strengthen the SLFP as a major political force in the country.
Bandara said he cannot accept the forming of any other party or group under the guise of safeguarding the SLFP.
“All SLFPers should rally round the SLFP, if they really want to strengthen the party. The SLFP will be affected by forming various parties and groups, which are formed pretending to protect the party.
There may be mismatches and criticisms, but everyone is duty-bound to move forward as a family. It is natural to have issues, but it is important to find solutions to those issues within the party,” he said.
The party leader should take tough action against unruly members to maintain peace in the party. Certain members are taking actions which harm the party since the party leader is not tough enough, Bandara said.
“We have witnessed how party members behaved during the term of certain past party leaders.”
Bandara said the SLFP may contest the forthcoming election alone, without entering into alliances.
Speaking on the issues faced by farmers, he suggested utilising novel technology to protect crops, the harvest and the farmer as well. The government should build cold rooms in farming areas to protect surplus from the harvest.
Bandara praised the President for taking the lead to wipe out the drug menace from the country.
Eric Weerawardena said the suggestion of the President to implement the death penalty for drug traffickers will be carried out in future to eradicate the drug menace.
from daily news