Jayasuriya enunciated views of majority of UNP members - Lokuge

COLOMBO: Colombo District UNP MP Gamini Lokuge in a letter addressed to UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday took umbrage with Galle District UNP MP Vajira Abeywardena for misleading the UNP Leader by distorting facts of a media announcement made by Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya recently.

Gamini Lokuge's letter pointed out that the views expressed in Karu Jayasuriya's media release of October 31 did not represent his personal views but the common view of the majority of the party emphasising the urgency to open up a dialogue for the well being of the masses.

The letter said that the condemnation of the media release spells out not only the intolerance of the freedom of expression but an open reminiscence of Abeywardena's conduct of suppressing public opinion within his electorate.

Lokuge urged the UNP Leader to re-read Karu Jayasuriya's letter which precisely emphasised the need to preserve the cardinal principle of democracy within the party while dealing with the common aspirations of the people, human rights, impartiality of the public service, media freedom and election reforms.

The letter queried as to whether the call to rebuild public confidence is violation of party discipline, or whether the reminder to include the 17th Amendment to the Constitution is a criminal act.

The letter further said that Vajira Abeywardena's letter to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe re-affirms the current decay in the party image as a party dominated by a handful of despotic elements who brought about defeat to the party at a series of successive elections. It is rather deplorable that Abeywardena is proposing to initiate disciplinary action against Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya who was called to the party on the recommendation of former Minister A.C.S. Hameed is a veteran politician with experience as a Mayor, as a Chief Minister, as an MP, as a Minister and as the Deputy Leader of the United National Party.

The voters of Colombo and Gampaha elected him as their representative with a majority only second to Wickremesinghe. Karu Jayasuriya is renowned for his gentlemanly politics free from character assassination. Jayasuriya who introduced a new political culture is a strength to the United National Party, stated Gamini Lokuge's letter.

The letter urged the UNP Leader not to make the mistake of missing the last chance to retain a splendid leadership to the party and push the masses in to utter gloom because of a set of shortsighted followers who lack a broad outlook.