Southern Provincial Councillor joins UNP

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Southern Provincial Council's Leader of the House Ajith Rajapakse yesterday joined the United National Party pledging his support to UNP's Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"Only Wickremesinghe has a clear vision and programme to resolve the prolonged ethnic crisis. Therefore, I decided to extend support to Wickremesinghe and his party UNP," Rajapakse told a media briefing at the Opposition Leader's office yesterday.

He said today SLFP is facing a crisis. "The SLFP's future is very uncertain." Rajapakse said there is an attempt to divert the party's approach towards solving the ethnic question.

"For the last 11 years, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been dedicated to bring a lasting peace to this country. Now, it seems there are attempts to divert this approach."

He claimed that both JVP and JHU are trying to achieve their objectives through this Presidential campaign and take control of the SLFP. "I understand that Premier Rajapakse is not ready to move forward the programme initiated by the President." He explained that there is a similar approach between the UNP and SLFP towards bringing peace. "That's why I joined the UNP. I am not an opportunist."

Rajapakse said he obtained the highest votes at the last Provincial council election from the Southern province." I am confident that the UNP will be able to render a better service to the people of Hambantota."