Opposition Leader skips SB show

THE protest campaign organised by the UNP in Anuradhapura over the weekend calling for the release of jailed party strongman S.B. Dissanayake was marked by poor attendance with even party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe giving it the slip.

A meeting in this connection at the Yovun Nikethanaya in Anuradhapura drew only a few party supporters and even the march to the Ruvanweliseya that followed saw only about half of those present participating.

The protest campaign where it was intended to obtain 100,000 signatures for Dissanayake's release was attended by only MPs Rajitha Senaratne and Mahinda Wijesekera and the jailed MP's wife Tamara.

The campaign proved a damp squib with none of the party leaders in Anuradhapura or the Opposition Leader present.

Wickremesinghe who was in Anuradhapura the same day addressed pocket meetings of the party but skipped the program in connection with Dissanayake including religious ceremonies at the Ruwanweliseya and Sri Maha Bodhiya.

People query whether the absence of the UNP leader at the ceremonies in connection with Dissanayake's release was due to the poor attendance or whether it was motivated by disinterest shown towards Dissanayake's fate.