Buddhika to counter Mangala’s charges

By Lal Gunesekera

Matara District UNP Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana says he will counter all allegations levelled against him, by another Matara District UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera, before Sunday (30).

Samaraweera, a former SLFPer, who crossed over to the UNP after being sacked as External Affairs Minister by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has complained to the party hierarchy that Pathirana made some disparaging remarks about him.

UNP Disciplinary Committee Secretary Asendra Siriwardene had written to Pathirana calling for his written explanation, to the allegations levelled by Samaraweera, before September 30.

Pathirana, one of the youngest Parliamentarians in the country, was earlier accused by the party hierarchy of supporting an independent group at the Local Government elections last year (2011) and was called for an explanation, but it was later withdrawn.

At the Parliamentary Elections held in April 2010, Pathirana topped the preferential votes (62,499) for the UNP in the Matara District, while Samaraweera came second with 59,836 votes.