Karu hails reformists' victory

KOTTE: UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, in a media release following the Executive Council Meeting, thanked the UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for the cooperation he extended to pass the resolutions that were the aspiration of a large majority of UNP membership.

The longstanding wish of the UNP membership was the establishment of a primary party restructuring process for the general good of the party. At the Executive Council meeting, that aspiration became a reality with the cooperation of the party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Jayasuriya said.

He said: "It is an undisputed fact that the United National Party is the strongest political force in this country. It has a mass backing of approximately four million voters.

At the same time ours is a party trusted by the people to this day, as a political force that discharge the great duty to build the nation in the post independence Sri Lanka.

"As far as the setbacks in elections are concerned, the majority of seniors of our party held the view that the existing procedure should change. Everybody held the view that the existing institutional structure as well as the decision making machinery should be reorganised on a broader basis of people's representation. We believe that the resolutions passed at the Executive Council meeting will fulfil most of these expectations.

"According to the proposed changes various organisations affiliated to the party such as Women's organizations, Youth organizations, Trade Unions, Professionals, University organizations etc. will have representation in the Executive Council ensuring a broader democratic outlook in decision making. This we consider as a fruition of our endeavour to make our party more democratic.

"Another important decision taken at the yesterday's meeting was the proposed reconstruction of the political councils which wield wide powers such as taking important political decisions, appointment of Chairmen and selection of organisers. Inclusion of these bodies in the party constitution and empowering them to perform certain functions is another decision taken in the interest of the party.

"The decisions enumerated above, we consider as a revival of the democratic principles followed by the UNP founder members who expected to synchronise the party with people's aspirations. D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, and R. Premadasa as our party Leaders strove hard to place our party on a broad base of public opinion.

"We need to follow their footsteps and take forward their ideologies to make our party a dynamic political force which is people friendly and of service to the country. Our efforts to reform the party triggered much criticism and attack by some groups but our actions will be justified. Once the proposals are confirmed at the General Convention, the UNP will march forward as a rejuvenated party which is people friendly, efficient and patriotic."