Sri Lanka President asks opposition not to involve children in politics

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today requested the opposition parties in the country not to misguide the school children and get them involved in politics.
Addressing the 61st anniversary celebrations of Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), the key constituent of the ruling alliance, in Kegalle Urban Council grounds today, the President alleged that there is a conspiracy movement to misguide school children and they are being brought to the streets under the pretext that there is a problem affecting the parents.

He called on the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) to think of the children and not to spread rumors or burden the children unnecessarily.

Speaking of the developments in the country, the President said his government is committed to make the country the center of Asia where people can enjoy the benefits of an immense welfare system.

He expressed confidence that the public will convey the right message to the international community that the country is heading in the right direction.

Paying tribute to the founders of the party, .W.R.D. Bandaranaike, D.A. Rajapaksa and many other notable leaders, General Secretary of the SLFP Minister Maithreepala Sirisena noted that the party has made significant positive changes in the country's political, economic and cultural fronts.

SLFP was founded by the 4th Prime Minister of Sri Lanka late S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, it has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena.

The party has 118 members in the parliament at present and formed the government with two-third majority.

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