UNP to hold inaugural election rally in Kandy

Tuesday, 7 July 2015 01:38 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

 

The United National Party (UNP) announced yesterday that it would hold its inaugural election rally in Kandy on 14 July.

UNP media spokesman and Minister of Media, Gayantha Karunathilaka, said that the UNP had held its inaugural rally in Kandy as a tradition. The party will hold a series of rallies at the district, electorate and village level after the inaugural rally.

Before the inaugural campaign rally, a special conference of the party, presided over by the party leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, will be held in Colombo on 11 July.

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Addressing a media conference today in Colombo, Minister Karunathilaka said that the party had decided not to use public property for election propaganda and the people would see the difference between the former regime and the UNP with this move. The objective of the UNP was to conduct the election according the election laws.

He said that the party would also launch a door-to-door canvassing program at the village level with the participation of grassroots activists of the party.

Highlighting the work done by the present government during its short tenure, the Media Minister said the government had been responsible for providing many privileges, including salary increases, to public employees within a short period. The Minister noted that salaries of government workers were increased by Rs. 10,000 and the prices of essential consumer items, including fuel and gas, were reduced with the aim of relieving the cost of living burden of the people. 

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Dismissing the former president’s accusation that the government was harassing public employees, Minister Karunathilaka said the government had prepared the necessary groundwork for state employees to freely engage in their professions. However, certain public officers had to be interrogated regarding misappropriation of public funds, fraud and corruption during the previous regime, the Minister pointed out. 

He further noted that it was the present government which had provided a 15% interest on fixed deposits up to Rs. 1 million for senior citizens. The Minister said that certain individuals were contesting the election in order to evade charges of fraud and corruption. However, the United National Party would present cleaner characters for the general election. Even the leftist progressive section would support the UNP, he said, adding that the party would secure a clear victory at the elections on 17 August. 



 - PiX by Shehan Gunasekara

 

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