Freedom Polls Watch on Ranil's appeal to SLFP

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's utterances that he would extend the hand of friendship to the SLFP if he wins the Presidential Election is at odds with his party's conduct after the 2001 UNP victory, the Freedom Polls Watch said yesterday.

In a news release signed by Coordinator Ananda Gunatilake, FPW said the UNP leader who now seeks to work with the SLFP and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, did not care for the opinion of the Opposition while he was holding office. His party scuttled peace moves put forward by President Kumaratunga.

FPW questioned the UNP leader's motives in inviting the SLFP to work together with him at this juncture while at the same time speaking of remaining in power for the next 12 years.