UNP (D) Group reaffirms faith in President

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Since the reasons for them to withdraw from the UNP have not been resolved yet , there is no question of supporting the UNP or its leadership at this moment - UNP (D) Group

colombo: UNP Democratic Group which met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday evening at Temple Trees pledged its support to strengthen his hands to lead the country.

The UNP (D) Group expressing their admiration for the leadership of the President in the fight against terrorism and for the country’s development, stated that it is the duty of all patriotic citizens to support him.

Since the reasons for them to withdraw from the UNP have not been resolved yet , there is no question of supporting the UNP or its leadership at this moment , they said.

The members of the UNP (D) Group that met the President included Ministers P. Dayaratna, Gamini Lokuge, M.H. Mohommed, G. L. Peiris, Milinda Moragoda, Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Wijesekera, Rajitha Senaratna, Dharmadasa Banda, Naveen Dissanayaka, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Neomal Perera, Chandrasiri Suriyarachchi and Mohommed Mustafa. Senior advisor to the President Basil Raja-paksa, MP and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga were also present.

When contacted by the Daily News, UNP D-group member and Minister Gamini Lokuge said that Karu Jayasuriya has left the group after accepting an invitation and an appointment offered to him by the UNP working Committee asking him to take over office as UNP’s Deputy Leader. Karu Jayasuriya had officially reported to the President at Temple Trees before UNP D-group members met him.