'UNP not the legacy of any private individual'

The following statement was made by Moratuwa MMC Deepal Rodrigo on March 29 in reply to query on February 21, 2005.

"My father a staunch leftist politician, was a former President of the Leftist Trade Union when Anil Munasinghe was the C.T.B. Chairman during the period from 1970 to 1977.

The elder brother of my father was a former Vice Chairman of the Mampe Kesbewa Village Council within the Moratuwa Electorate, during this particular period.

In spite of my upbringing under a leftist political background, I kicked aside the leftist movement and joined the United National Party in 1988 after leaving school in appreciation of the invaluable services rendered by Tyronne Fernando to the Moratuwa Electorate and also appreciating his political rhythm.

I was the first President elected to the Youth Front of the Moratuwa Political Council and the All Island Joint Treasurer elected by the Youth Front votes. In the course of my untiring efforts towards the well-being of the party I took part in the Janabala operation of 2001 and was hospitalised following gun shot injuries. Two youths were killed in this incident.

I gave up my position as a Trading Manager in a leading Company to work for the victory of the party at the 2001 General Election.

At the Local Government Election of 2002, I contested the Kaldemulla seat and was elected to the Moratuwa Municipal Council scoring the highest preferential votes. (This was a seat not won by a UNP candidate for 33 years in the past.) My salary as a member of the Municipal Council was spent for youth activities and for the welfare of the poor people.

As an active party man who worked with the ordinary people and the youths, I was saddened and disappointed when my political mentor Tyronne Fernando was not nominated as a Member of Parliament.

I have no confidence in a leader who ignored his Public proclamation to nominate Tyronne Fernando as a MP. Tyronne Fernando had retained his seat in Parliament undefeated for 27 long years. If Tyronne Fernando with so much of an unblemished and corrupt free service to the people was treated in this manner, we cannot imagine how the ordinary folk like us would be treated under this leadership.

On a review of the past incidents, the cardinal fact that dawned on me was that only one single individual is responsible for the down fall of the UNP.

I am only one of the millions of party loyalists whose hopes were shattered owing to this particular individual.

Who is responsible for the defeat of the UNP regime that was victorious due to the dedication of all the UNP loyalists in 2001?

Who toppled the 2001 UNP regime by ignoring the issue of Executive Presidency, with full knowledge of intricacies involved therein.

Who did weaken the political strength of 40 to 50 Parliamentarians by abolishing their Membership in Parliament?

Who did deprive of the employment opportunities to youths who worked day and night for the welfare of the party when there were vacancies?

Who did pave the way for the JVP to win 39 seats in Parliament? Who created the Hela Urumaya and gave them the opportunity to gain 09 seats in Parliament?

Who engineered the defeat of 12 elections out of the 14 held? If the very person who directed the Party towards its down fall hopes for the highest position in the country, the destruction of that party becomes inevitable.

Before the political assassination of a sincere youth like myself, the propriety of having this individual as the Leader of the Party is a matter that has to be adjudicated by secrete ballot at a democratic convention.

I am eagerly awaiting an opportunity to give oral explanation at a dialogue before you on these matters.

I wish to emphasise that the United National Party is not the legacy of any private individual or an organisation yielding to chauvinism.

Deepal Rodrigo, MMC, Moratuwa.