SB crosses over from UNP

M. P. MUTTIAH

UNP National Organizer, Central Provincial Council Opposition Leader and Walapane UNP Organizer S. B. Dissanayake yesterday resigned from all posts of the UNP and declared his unconditional support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential Election. Dissanayake joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party yesterday and said many members of the local government institutions too would join the SLFP and work for President Rajapaksa’s victory.

Addressing the media at the Taj Samudra yesterday, Dissanayake said this was a crucial time to safeguard the nation, its people and democracy. “As such it is necessary to support President Rajapaksa,” he said.

“Mahinda Rajapaksa, the humanist, liberated the country from the clutches of terrorism. He is very strong. He cannot be defeated. He is the one who brought peace to the country,” Dissanayake said.

Announcing his decision Dissanayake said the UNP should be protected from Ranil Wickremesinghe. Democracy should be safeguarded from Sarath Fonseka. Therefore, he said, it is the duty of everyone to defeat Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sarath Fonseka, Mangala Samaraweera and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Dissanayake said he was leaving the UNP with great pain. However, he would never forget those who placed their trust in him.

“I accepted the post of Organizer for Walapane Electorate with much hope. I thank the 182,000 people of the Kandy district who voted for me.” “he said.

The former UNP National Organizer said “the forthcoming Presidential Election would be marked as the 17th defeat of the party in polls. The next General Elections would be the 18th defeat of Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he said.

Dissanayake said he was feeling sorry for the state of affairs in the UNP. The members of the party would have to suffer for another eight years as in the last 16 years.

He alleged a number of staunch UNPers including M.H. Mohamed, Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Wijayapala Mendis, had to leave the party because of the leadership. He added that he totally opposed the Fonseka’s candidature.

“If the Swan becomes the symbol at the Presidential Elections, where is the vision of the UNP,” he queried. Answering a question, he said Western countries would pump money, but it was the voters who will decide their future Head of State.

Referring to the JVP, Dissanayake said, its vote bank had declined. Its main aim is to contest the General Elections with the UNP and get some bonus seats. He predicted that at the forthcoming General Elections, the UPFA would win and the UNP defeated.

He said that the post of National Organizer was nowhere found in the constitution of the UNP, it was therefore namesake.

Jayawardenapura University Professor Navaratne, former Galle district PA MP Keerthi Mawella, Ajith Kumara and several others attended the press conference.