by Namini Wijedasa
United National Party General Secretary Senarath Kapukotuwa said last week that the people of this country should know not to vote for characters with underworld links.

"The people of this country must understand whom they are voting for," Kapukotuwa said, fielding queries about rising criminal allegations against members of the UNP (at parliamentary, local government and membership level). "If people vote for fellows with underworld links, they will get what they deserve."

"There are so many people involved in violent aggression," he accepted. "We have to get out of it. They have to be out of the political arena."

The latest allegations are against a UNP provincial councillor over the murder last week of People’s Alliance provincial councillor Sunil Mendis.

Kapukotuwa claimed the prime minister has sent a strong message to members of his cabinet that it was imperative to have law and order.

"It is being done, the people concerned are being caught," he maintained, emphasising that even the killers in "Chandi Malli’s" assassination had been caught.

Asked what the UNP was doing as a party to instil discipline within its ranks, Kapukotuwa said that the issue is being taken up at the UNP Working Committee which is the apex of the party’s hierarchy.

"The PM has given a very clear message," he claimed. "But people must also get involved. The media and normal people of this country must realise. If people have links with the underworld or if they are making money in corrupt ways, for heaven’s sake, don’t vote for them."

Members of the UNP have over the past few months been accused of involvement in a range of criminal activity including passport fraud, murder, disturbance to the peace, threat, intimidation and corruption.

The UNP has been seen as tolerating the misdemeanours although Kapukotuwa claimed that party leadership was treating the matter seriously.