People are free to elect leader of their choice - Ranil

The United National Party (UNP) has once more ascertained that people are supreme and they will enjoy electing the leader that should take the country forward fulfilling the aspirations of the masses at the forthcoming Presidential Election, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Addressing party loyalists at the Siri Kotha to mark the 59th anniversary of the UNP, Wickremesinghe said the `Jana Bala Meheyuma' proved to be a success. The signing of petitions asking the Commissioner of Elections to hold the Presidential Election on time and the verdict of the Supreme Court were resounding victories.

Their party roused the slumbering conscience of the nation, when they were threatened with losing their right to elect a leader for the country at the right time, he added. "Now people are free to decide who should be their leader."

The UNP stood for one united country. It respects and recognises the rights of all communities and promises freedom from want and right to live a life worthy as human beings.

"From the first Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake down to the present we have one policy of an undivided country where all communities could live together without any differences. We stand for that policy and we will do nothing to divide the country," he said.

Wickremesinghe distributed certificates of recognition to long standing Party members.

Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Party Deputy Secretary General Tissa Attanayake and Party Chairman Malik Samarawickrema also spoke at the anniversary meeting.