by Kesara Abeywardena
UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday confidently declared the UNP-led United National Front would form a national government in the wider interest of the nation with a vision to recover the economy, to end the north-east war and restore law and order in the country dispelling the present anarchy, when they emerge victorious at the forthcoming general election.

"After an election victory on December 5 we will form the national or all party government we were unable to form as the PA government dissolved parliament. We want to salvage this country and take it to the future and prevent the three volcanoes of economic depression, the north-east war and the anarchy prevailing over the country erupting and destroying this land of ours. President J.R. Jayawardena opened this country to the world. President Premadasa took those benefits to the village. We want to complete the process by taking the village to the world," an ecstatic Wickremesinghe thundered to an applauding crowd at the UNP special convention in Town Hall yesterday.

Addressing the mass gathering of UNP delegates from around the country and other election partners, including the PA dissidents led by S.B. Dissanayaka and G.L. Peiris, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and Upcountry People’s Front leader P. Chandrasekaran, Wickremesinghe assured that another section of the PA would join them in parliament after the election. In lighter vein he added: "Since we won’t be able to provide nominations to all I asked them to contest from the PA and then join us."

He laid down plans to establish an internal ministry with the independent police commission to restore law and order and also to have a special women’s council for the empowerment of women who contribute in a large way to the economy.

He further said that finding a political solution to the north-east war by devolving power to satisfy the Tamil community while safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country would be of highest priority in a UNF government. He also said that the armed services would be upgraded and a special board will be established to make military purchases free of political influence.