Common enemy dictatorial MR regime not Karu or Dayasiri – Sajith

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, recently said that the common enemy was the Rajapaksa regime, though some acted as if a threat had emanated from MPs Karu Jayasuriya and Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Premadasa emphasized that the ground reality was that Jayasuriya and Jayasekera, too, should have an important role to play in the ongoing PC polls campaign in the North-Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern province.

The party couldn’t do without them, the Hambantota District MP told a gathering of party activists at Ratnapura. The meeting, chaired by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, was held in support of those contesting the upcoming PC polls in the Ratnapura District on the UNP ticket.

Premadasa said that no one should be sidelined in the party. Calling upon the leadership to immediately cease all ongoing disciplinary inquiries against members, the UNP Deputy Leader said it was against President Rajapaksa that a disciplinary inquiry had to be conducted. "When people quit the party it’ll only strengthen the UPFA. The government is waiting for more desertions. We shouldn’t allow the government to exploit the situation by forcing more people to leave."Premadasa called for unconditional unity among UNPers regardless of differences of opinion.

MP Premadasa said the forthcoming election would be crucial not only to those struggling to make ends meet but the UNP as well. The authoritarian Rajapaksa regime should be defeated now, the MP said, adding that the forthcoming elections to three PCs could give the UNP an opportunity to strike back. The country expected the UNP to take the lead in the battle against the Rajapaksas.

Premadasa stressed that he wasn’t there to promote anyone. The need of the hour was a cohesive political campaign to educate the masses of the need to defeat the Rajapaksas at the PC polls. That should give the party strength to forge ahead and grab power, he said. Winning the next presidential election should be a priority, the MP said.

Premadasa emphasized the pivotal importance of conducting a strong campaign in each and every village to ensure the party could attract people. The failure on the part of the UNP to go all out in the provinces would be detrimental and cause setbacks to their efforts, he said. He dismissed the perception that the UNP should be satisfied with increasing the number of seats and percentage at the forthcomings polls. "Our intension should be to win the PCs. There is no point in increasing the number of seats if we are unable to secure each and every PC."

Commenting on a recent decision taken by the UNP to do away with the practice of electing the party leader annually, Premadasa stressed that he was strongly opposed to any attempt to tinker with the party Constitution. He said that he wouldn’t accept the move to extend the term of office from one to six years, though some interested parties, including a section of the media portrayed a different picture.

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