![Gossip - Lanka News [English]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMdjdmkZNNmQMdiyVyjHG0DAsid1JQzX2Wn_k0MMWpx93YaFp4Hv9rnCw1uuJZY1H60dquhLJCfg_uJg-gEz_FRlG07NUtWUslmZMhWhnOnm3dUim4hjUuNto_KPJrByj4iyXdSXuctY/s1600-r/GOSSIP-LANKA+LOGO.png)
Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister and SLFP Treasurer Dallas Alahapperuma yesterday told The Island that the party would hold its annual convention in early November after completing electoral conventions at all 168 electorates.
Responding to a query, Minister Alahapperuma said that conventions had been held in 136 out of 168 electorates and the rest would be completed within the first two weeks of October. The electorates where conventions were yet to be held included five areas in districts outside the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The National List MP said that the party could have finalized the project earlier if not for Uva Provincial Council poll scheduled for September 20th.
The minister said that some interpreted the recently concluded 63rd anniversary celebrations at Badulla as the annual convention.
The minister emphasized that no other political party had party conventions at electoral level. "Ours is a unique strategy aimed at strengthening the party at grassroots level. The Opposition is unable to compete with us at village level. We are conducting an aggressive campaign."
Addressing a media gathering at SLFP headquarters, at T.B. Jayah Mawatha, on Sunday Minister Alahapperuma challenged the UNP and the JVP to try to emulate the SLFP strategy. The minister said that every electoral convention held so far attracted at least 1,500 SLFP activists. In fact, the SLFP had the strongest active cadre at village level, though some others claimed that they were making headway.
Senior Vice President of the SLFP and Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the party had been engaged in house to house campaign in Uva. Minister de Silva said that the UNP was struggling to make an impact with few rallies in towns and almost nothing at village level. In spite of making grandiose claims, the main Opposition party was experiencing serious difficulties, the minister said.
Commenting on the 68th anniversary of the UNP held at Passara, Badulla, Minister de Silva alleged that the UNP had no option but to bring in outsiders as the party couldn’t attract people in the area. The SLFP would step up its drive next week with President Mahinda Rajapaksa joining the campaign on September 17, the minister said, adding that the SLFP carried out a comprehensive campaign meant to boost the party and the government.
island.lk
by Shamindra Ferdinando
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