SLFP Celebrates 64th Anniversary Today

 

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party celebrates its 64th anniversary today.

The anniversary celebration will be held at the Rajarata Navodya Grounds at Kaduruwela, Polonnaruwa, under the patronage of SLFP Chairman, President Maithripala Sirisena.

The SLFP was founded on September 2, 1951, by SWRD Bandaranaike, who left the UNP government to sit in the opposition. SLFP entered electoral politics the following year, winning 9 seats in parliament. Four years later it was the main constituent of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna alliance which swept into power.

Following the assassination of Prime Minister Bandaranaike in September 1959, the SLFP passed an uncertain period. It ended when the widow of the slain Prime Minister led the party to victory in the July 1960 election. Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike became the first female Prime Minister of the world.

The SLFP governed the country until 1965 and once again as part of the United Front from 1970 to 1977. Following the phenomenal victory of the UNP in the 1977 General Election, the SLFP once again entered a period of factionalism. It ended with the formation of the People’s Alliance, a five member alliance of center-left parties, in 1993.

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected Executive President of Sri Lanka in 1994. The SLFP has held the executive presidency ever since her election.