UNP working to Hakeem's agenda - UNP(D)

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The United National Party (UNP) has betrayed the Elephant Symbol and is acting according to Rauf Hakeem's agenda, the UNP-D Group claimed yesterday.

"This has drawn both Sinhalese and Tamils away from the UNP. The Government will definitely win the Eastern Provincial Council which is going to be held for the first time after the 13th Amendment came into being", Investment Promotions Minister Navin Dissanayake said.

Addressing a special press briefing at the United National Party - Democratic Group's office, Colombo 5 yesterday, Minister Dissanayake said the UNP leadership does not have a political strategy and is keeping away from most crucial events such as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations, elections etc.

"He spends holidays in Australia with another MP during such occasions. "But all former UNP leaders spent their whole time campaigning and even stayed camped out in the relevant areas". The Minister said the UNP leadership is now in the process of devising strategies to control the next uprising in the party just after the Eastern Provincial Council Election.

"The UNP has already given the Chief Minister's Post to Rauf Hakeem but the Government has kept it open for any candidate from any political party.

Since the Government is going to achieve an easy victory it does not need to obtain a black mark by rigging or involving in any other illegal activities", Dissanayake said.

He said, "The UNP's strategy today is `Deal Politics' and to bring persons for money from outside to carry out election campaigns. But what we should do is safeguard local politicians. In the Mahaweli region 65,000 people voted for President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2005 and only 45,000 voted for the Opposition Leader. The UNP leadership is already staring defeat in the face and is floating excuses. There is a formal leader and informal leader in the UNP".

He said UNPers in the East were either going to refrain from voting or vote with the UPFA adding that the people in the East have now received the opportunity to breathe freely after 20 years of imprisonment.

Minister Dissanayake observed that there is a huge development drive going on in the East.All people in Mahaweli areas will vote for the UNP-D Group candidate Indrajith Wijeratne.

"We will get 30 per cent of all Muslim votes and 80- 90 per cent of Tamil votes. The UNP has asked their Provincial Councillors to go to the East and work for the election but only 40 per cent have obeyed this command," Minister Dissanayake said. According to some reliable independent surveys, the JVP will only win one seat, he said.

Minister Dissanayake said President Mahinda Rajapaksa believes that the Provincial Councils should be given all powers and the implementation of the 13th Amendment will solve the ethnic conflict. The UNP-D Group believes the same. If more power is required for the Provincial Councils it can be discussed later. First the Provincial Council system should be established, he said.