UNP for ‘United’ power sharing framework

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: Laying down their stance on power devolution the UNP yesterday asserted, that it was for a credible power sharing arrangement within a United framework.

While stressing that the UNP always stood for such an arrangement MP Lakshman Kiriella said “the question is how much power we are going to devolve, because some think it might lead to separatism” and acknowledged that the UNP would come out with the correct balance.

Speaking to the media in the presence of Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and MP Mangala Samaraweera he said the only party which took meaningful steps to devolve power in the post independence history was the UNP.

While appealing all not to get bogged down by mere words such as “Federalism” Kiriella charged that although the Government was embroiled in the question of devolution now, there was not a single word regarding power sharing in President’s election manifesto “Mahinda Chinthana”.