UNP dominated by financiers - Minister Rajitha

COLOMBO: The United National Party which was hailed as a party concerned with the welfare of the masses throughout its history has by now become a party of private entrepreneurs and financiers, said Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne.

He was addressing the media after the dissident UNP group who crossed over to the Government visited Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy.

All the UNP organisations including electoral working committees and Trade Unions have joined hands to strengthen democracy within the party, They called on the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter.

Minister Senaratne said they turned a new leaf in the political history to extricate the party from the conventional path of conflicting politics and to strengthen the hand of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop the country.

'We believe that the UNP and the SLFP should remain in politics as forces capable of forming alternative Governments, he said.