Professor Sarath Wijesuriya of University of Colombo stated that former President Mahinda Rajapakshe as former Chairman of SLFP caused severe damage to SLFP by extending his tenure. He stressed this point when former Chairman of SLFP Mahinda Rajapakshe was also seated beside current Chairman Maithripala Sirisena.
Professor Sarath Wijesuriya delivered the guest speech at Commemoration of the 64th Anniversary of SLFP held at Rajarata Navodaya Stadium in Kanduruwela, Polonnaruwa.
When he reproached the former president about his unwarranted extension of Chairman Tenure despite performing a good job by putting an end to the war, former President Mahinda Rajapakshe had looked at President Maithripala Sirisena.
However he recalled the service rendered to the party by all its leaders from Founder SWRD Bandaranaike to President Maithripala Sirisena.