Launching of alternative political movement detrimental to UNP’s interests, says Sajith

By Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP Deputy Leader, Sajith Premadasa, MP, warned that any attempt to launch an alternative political movement would be detrimental to the UNP.

Premadasa warned that such a course of action would weaken the UNP further hence making it advantageous to the authoritarian Rajapaksa regime. The Hambantota District MP was speaking at the Mother of Good Health Church, Bingiriya on Oct 11, the day before the decision making Working Committee of the UNP decided to boycott a public rally at Hyde Park organized by the United Bhikku Front.

Premadasa was flanked by Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

Although a spate of electoral defeats and setbacks had caused much pain of mind over the years, it was high time to take remedial action, Premadasa said, emphasizing the importance of adopting a pro-people approach to win and hearts and minds of the people.

The UNPer said that leaving the party for another party wouldn’t help their cause. It would be beneficial to the SLFP-led ruling coalition, he said, recalling how those who had left the UNP for other political parties over the years ended up losing their parliamentary seats. The MP described those who had joined other political parties at the expense of the UNP as failures.

Premadasa urged his colleagues to give up their private agendas and help the party to regain power.

"People believe the next UNP government can bring relief to those struggling to make ends meet. We need to work as a party with the blessings of other pro-people movements."

Recalling his father, Ranasinghe Premadasa’s leadership qualities, Premadasa said that housing projects launched by him was an example to all political parties. He challenged the government to launch projects beneficial to the people without trying to erase memories of what his father did for the people. The people had now realized that the Rajapaksa government wasn’t what it professed to be, the MP said adding that foolish handling of the FUTA issue exposed the government. The MP alleged that the government was destroying the education sector. The government owed an explanation to the people as regards its decision to sharply reduce the amount allocated for education, he said, pointing out that since the conclusion of the conflict the allocation was reduced to 1.86 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), whereas during the war allocation amounted to 3 per cent of the GDP.

Commenting on the recent attack on Manjula Tillekaratne, Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), MP Premadasa launched a scathing attack on SLMC leader Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem over his controversial decision to support the government at the Eastern Provincial Council. The UNPer said that the entire country was watching how the Justice Minister handled the attack on the JSC Secretary.