Kandy UNPers lash out at leader

Chaminda Perera

The UNP members of Local Government bodies who joined the Government with 5,000 UNP members in Kandy yesterday lashed out at its leadership for overlooking the senior members who dedicated their lives for the uplift of the party in times of difficulty.

They said the UNP leadership is trying to end the political career of S.B. Dissanayake by appointing him as the Central Province Chief Ministerial candidate. According to these members the party does not give any support to S.B. Dissanayake to continue his election campaign.

They voiced their anger and disillusionment over the leadership’s inaction to support the Government’s endevour against the LTTE terrorists who have plagued the country’s development for more than three decades.

“The UNP had charismatic leaders of the calibre of D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake and R. Premadasa who withstood difficulties and steered the party on the correct path. They never deviated from the policy that the country is above party politics.

Deputy Chairman of Pasbage Pradeshiya Sabha H.G. Maithripala said the UNP leader and his cronies attempted to instill a notion among the party members that government’s endevour against the terrorists is a flop. The Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has scored great success in the humanitarian operation against the terrorists.

The terrorist strongholds which were presumed to be impregnable by the UNP hierachy were captured by the Forces under the able guidance of the President, he said. Opposition Leader of the Hewaheta Pradeshiya Sabha Sulbi Marrikkar said the UNP formed by Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake gave equal status to the Muslim, Tamil, Burgher and Malay communities in the party.

”The UNP comprises Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala leaders and the party did not entertain any type of indiscrimination in terms of race, religion or language. But the present leadership has not given adequate representation to Muslims within the party.

”Senior UNP member and Senior Cabinet Minister A.C.S. Hameed requested the UNP leader to appoint a National list MP for the Eastern Province as there is no legislator representing the Eastern Muslims in Parliament. But his request was turned down, he said.

”I call on all Muslims to shed petty political differences and extend their support to the Government at this crucial juncture when the country is facing the threat of the most ruthless terrorist outfit in the world, he said.

He said the UNP failed to condemn the violence unleashed by Israel on the Palestinian people. This Government is led by a President who has been the President of Sri Lanka Committee for Solidarity with Palestine since 1974 which is striving to create public awareness on the Palestinian issue.

The Government unequavocally denounced all attacks on the innocent Palestinian people.

President of the Nawalapitiya Yovun Balamandalaya Janaka Dushantha De Silva and its secretary J.M. Sampath, Kandy Pradeshiya Sabha member I. Abdeen and Akurana PS member Amarajeewa Indrakumara were also present.