UNF to launch civil disobedience campaign: Rajitha

By Chathuri Dissanayake

As the political crisis in the country stagnates with no plausible solution in sight, the United National Front (UNF) yesterday announced plans to launch a civil disobedience campaign to push President Maithripala Sirisena to reverse the decisions taken a month ago to replace the sitting Prime Minister.

“We are taking all steps to go against the situation now. We will take action on behalf of our people, we will make decisions to launch a civil disobedience campaign in the future,” United National Party front-liner Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday, speaking at a press briefing held at Temple Trees. 

“Will the President and the illegal Prime Minister change their stance now? That is what we are demanding. The final question is that, not of any elections,” Senaratne charged, saying that the civil disobedience campaign is the beginning of a series of actions planned to push the Executive to abide by the Constitution. 

The UNF, rejecting calls for general elections, also challenged the President to call for a presidential election, emphasising that it would be a good way to understand if the people approve of Sirisena’s decisions, UNP Senior Member Gayantha Karunatilake said. 

“Call for a presidential election. This entire crisis was brought upon by the President. This will be a good way to see if the people approve of his actions,” Karunatilake said.

However, he insisted that two elements should be included when holding an election. If elections are to be held, the Constitution should be upheld and the current crisis should be addressed, Karunatilake noted. 

“If this is the caretaker Government, then we can imagine the kind of Government we will have if we are to go for an elections. First we need to work towards establishing our Government,” he said.

Accusing President Sirisena of being power-hungry, Karunatilake stressed that the politicians should remember that the country is not private property to do as they please. 

“The current crisis in the Parliament is due to the power hunger, you can see that the fighting happens even when their leaders are watching. If the so-called caretaker Government behaves this way inside the Parliament, what can we expect outside of it?” he said.