UNP ploys will not deter UPFA - Berty Premalal

Chaminda Perera

COLOMBO: Ploys hatched by the UNP in the wake of provincial council elections will never deter the UPFA’s march to victory, North Central Chief Ministerial Candidate Berty Premalal Dissanayake said yesterday.

“The UNP has degenerated to such a low level that they could not find a chief ministerial candidate from the province,” Dissanayake told the Daily News.

Dissanayake tendered his nominations papers to the returning officer at the Anuradhapura District Secretariat yesterday.

He said his team comprising lawyers and Urban Council and Pradeshiya Sabha members would represent the people in different social strata. “The UNP is trying to cover up the incompetence of their chief ministerial candidate by levelling baseless allegations against the Government. The Rajarata people cannot be deceived by outsiders who pretend to be their sole saviours,” he said.

The party requires charismatic leadership who could stand above all differences and serve the people, but the present UNP leadership failed to address the country’s issues such as terrorism.

“The People in the NCP know better than any other province how the country’s security was betrayed in the guise of a ceasefire agreement by the UNP to fulfil the separatists’ aspirations. No other Government in history underestimated the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as the UNP led government.”

Dissanayake categorically denied allegations by the UNP General Secretary that the Government was putting up camps in Polonnaruwa to sabotage the election.

“We do not want to use win elections by force as the people are with the UPFA and that was clearly evident at the Eastern provincial election,” he stressed.