Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Encyclopedia
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the major political parties in Sri Lanka
. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in government on a number of occasions. The party is generally considered as having a centre-left
or progressivist economic agenda and is often associated with hard-line nationalist Sinhala parties. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is currently a part of the UPFA (United People's Freedom Alliance
) which is the current ruling party of Sri Lanka. The current leader if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa
who is the current president of Sri Lanka
.
At the last legislative elections, held on 2 April 2004, the party was the leading party in the United People's Freedom Alliance
that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.
After the elections the party became the predominant party in government with Mahinda Rajapaksa
as prime minister.
Following the 17 November presidential elections
, the SLFP candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President of Sri Lanka - winning 50.3% of the votes cast, although having only part support from his split party.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It was founded by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and, since then, has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in government on a number of occasions. The party is generally considered as having a centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
or progressivist economic agenda and is often associated with hard-line nationalist Sinhala parties. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is currently a part of the UPFA (United People's Freedom Alliance
United People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
) which is the current ruling party of Sri Lanka. The current leader if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
who is the current president of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
.
History
After independence the SLFP represented a form of non-revolutionary socialism and a policy of non-alignment with strong ties to socialist countries.At the last legislative elections, held on 2 April 2004, the party was the leading party in the United People's Freedom Alliance
United People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats.
After the elections the party became the predominant party in government with Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
as prime minister.
Following the 17 November presidential elections
Sri Lankan presidential election, 2005
The Sri Lankan presidential election of 2005 was the fifth presidential election of Sri Lanka. Nominations were accepted on 7 September 2005, and the election was held on 17 November 2005. Electoral participation was 73.73%...
, the SLFP candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President of Sri Lanka - winning 50.3% of the votes cast, although having only part support from his split party.
Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Bhikku Sanvidanaya
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Indigenous physicians Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Teachers Union
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Farmers’ Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Medical Group
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Students’ Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Fishermen and Domestic Industrialists organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Cultural Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Lawyers Organization
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Provincial Council members’ Association
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Association of members of local authority
- Sri Lanka Nidahas Management Assistant Union
Publication
- "Singhale" - First SLFP journal 1956 ( Founder editor Dharma Sri Kuruppu )
- Dinakara - News paper