UNP dissidents yesterday expressed satisfaction over their ability to change the thinking of the party hierarchy to open up to make structural changes in the leadership and constitution to make the UNP more attractive to the younger generation and make it winnable at any forthcoming election.

"We are glad we were able to convince the seniors and the Working Committee to unanimously accept our proposals for making changes in the party structure through the appointment of a Deputy Leader and Assistant Leader and bring certain amendments to the party constitution", UNP sources said.

"This could strengthen and revolutionize the Party".

The four dissidents who pushed vigorously for reforms are parliamentarians Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Lakshman Seneviratne, Johmston Fernando and Ravindra Samaraweera.

They said that if anyone were to charge that they were working according to the agenda of President Mahinda Rajapaksa or senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa, such people are living in a fantasy land.

"These claims are baseless", they said.

"We were the most vociferous in our criticism against the President and the Government, and all what we did in pushing for reforms was in good faith in the interests of the party and the millions of the party rank and file who had expressed faith and stood firm with us despite facing numerous challenges in victory and defeat.

"We are optimistic that the opening up of the party to infuse young blood could be a step forward in achieving our goal of toppling this "treacherous and most corrupt Government" from power very soon", they said.

They said that they had no hidden agenda and their conscience is clear.

"We are sincere UNPers who were with the party from the time we entered politics and we will remain until we achieve victory".

They said that they are patiently awaiting the next turn of events as promised by the party leadership, seniors and the Working Committee to make the structural changes to party and its constitution "so that millions of people who have journeyed with us won’t feel betrayed".