UNP plans Special Convention

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: The United National Party will hold its Special Convention within 100 days to discuss grassroots ideas and bring unity to the party, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said.

"There is no split in the party," Attanayake stressed.

Addressing a media conference, Attanayake said his party held the 51st UNP Convention on November 19 for the future plans of the party and to review the grassroots ideas. Many groups in the party have participated with different concepts.

He said the UNP was doing its best to bring all groups together and form a united party. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is working together with party members on this objective. He said the MoU between the UNP and the SLFP was signed with several objectives in mind.

The main objective is to bring peace and prosperity. "In this sense we supporting the Government. It's rare in the world for an opposition party to support the ruling party." UNP Treasurer Tilak Karunaratne said that new appointments and changes cannot be avoided in any political party.

There can be many problems within any party and this can happen to the UNP or to any other party. His aim was to support the party to bring all the groups into one forum. "I hope Karu Jayasuriya will return within 100 days before the convention. I will do my best to bring them all together."

UNP media spokesman Gayantha Karunathilaka said the UNP was not against budget 2007. "In fact we are trying to support the Government. At the same time we won't fail to pinpoint weaknesses of the budget."