Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Chandima Weerakkody stated that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party cannot be absorbed into another party.

Speaking at a public meeting in Galle district yesterday, he made this observation as a response to accusations by the 'Joint Opposition' that the SLFP is merely following the UNP.

Weerakkody said that SWRD Bandaranaike created the SLFP as a moderate party between the right-wing UNP and the left-wing parties. It has worked with both sides but still remains with its identity, he added.

In 2004, the SLFP worked with the JVP and when it left the alliance, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa convinced 17 UNP MPs to join the government, Weerakkody recalled.