The chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena has called for an election to be held immediately. He said the party along with its factions wrote both the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Government to inform them of their stance and request for an election to be held.

“The party remains in the stance that elections must be held for numerous reasons. It is important to hold an election for both economic and social reasons,” he said. According to Sirisena, an election will also allow the people to release their tensions and pressures given the current situation. “It will help them spiritually. There is a psychological basis to it,” he said.

Addressing a press briefing at the party headquarters on Dalrey Road in Colombo yesterday, the party chairman revealed that steps are being taken to strengthen the party and that discussions are also ongoing with several other parties in the opposition to forge an alliance to face any future elections. “The party will only be part of a progressive leftist Government with a focus on a manufacturing economy,” he said.

General Secretary of the SLFP, Dayasiri Jayasekara said the SLFP will commence its party restructuring program in December in preparation for any future election.