UNP to set world record for series of defeats - UNP (D)

Nadira Gunatilleke

By May 10, the United National Party (UNP) is going to set a Guinness World Record as the first political party in the world which has achieved the most number of successive defeats under one leadership, spokesman for the UNP-D Group R.A.D.Sirisena said.

Addressing a special press briefing held at the UNP-D Group's office, Colombo 5 yesterday Sirisena said the Eastern Provincial Council Election will decide the future of the people in the East and whether they will go back to the darkness or step into the light. "The UNP could not save the East from terrorism and could not take away the weapons carried by the LTTE.

"Today it talks about rescuing the East from Pilleyan and disarming him. This is a big joke," he added.

He said the UNP is contesting the election not because it wants to secure the democratic rights of the Eastern people or because it wants to provide the leadership to the people. "It has a hidden desire to obtain a Parliamentary General Election. But the Eastern people have other burning problems than another General Election."

"The people in the East are going to prove that they appreciate the Government's development drive and show their gratitude for rescuing them from terrorism. Earlier they slept in jungles and their children lived in fear. Now they live in their homes and children go to school and play.

Earlier there was a fire in their hearts but today the fire is in hearth. Earlier the roads were not capable of even suitable for a cart but today modern vehicles run on a developed road network in the East," he added.

He pointed out that late Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake created the UNP for all people belonging to all ethnicities but today the UNP is acting according to the agenda of Rauf Hakeem.