- Alleges Sirisena camp is sidelining UNP
- Claims election mechanism of UNP switched off; campaign is run from CBK’s office
- Admits Rajapaksa regime has its flaws, but can protect Lankan sovereignty
By Chamitha Kuruppu
The Government’s major catch on nominations day, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake threw spokes in the wheel of the common Opposition at his first press conference since crossing over yesterday and strongly denied claims he had defected for cash.
Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake who crossed over to the UPFA is seen greeting the people who were gathered outside “Ape Gama” in Battaramulla where the SLFP news conference was held – Pic by Kithsiri De Mel |
Attanayake, who was addressing the media at Ape Gama in Battaramulla yesterday, indicated that the main opposition United National Party was divided about fielding former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena as common candidate instead of Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa.
Refuting media reports about the ‘price’ of his defection, Attanayake insisted his decision to join President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government had not been for money. “No amount of money can buy over my conscience,” he asserted.
Attanayake made the same assertion two weeks ago at the UNP Headquarters Sirikotha, where he broke down as he pledged to remain within the party.
The former General Secretary insisted that he remained a member of the United National Party.
However, yesterday Attanayake admitted that the Rajapaksa administration had its flaws. “But my aim was to support a leadership that would work for safeguarding the sovereignty of the country.
Attanayake accused common candidate Sirisena of not fulfilling pledges he made to the UNP.
According to him, the former SLFP General Secretary had initially vouched to bring 20-25 SLFP members to the Opposition following the nominations, but has failed to keep his word.
Attanayake asserted two weeks into the Opposition campaign that Sirisena acts according to his own agenda and deliberately disregards the UNP.
“Although the main Opposition has realised the double standard of the common candidate, the party is not taking any action about the matter,” he said.
The former UNP General Secretary said the election mechanism of the main Opposition party was switched off.
“The common candidate cannot even challenge the present President, let alone win the election without the UNP’s election mechanism,” he pointed out.
Attanayake also pointed out that Sirisena has signed MoUs with a number of political parties that hold diverse principles and policies.
He questioned how Sirisena would please all these parties with different viewpoints.
“Parties such as the TNA and JHU hold two extreme viewpoints. How can someone please both these parties at the same time? These MoUs and pledges of Sirisena say only one thing; it will destabilise the country. Even if they win the election it will only be a doomsday scenario for the country,” he noted.
Pointing out there was speculation that the Sirisena faction was to form a fresh political party, Attanayake said: “In such a situation, what will happen to the UNP? The UNP is supporting Maithree and his group to emerge strongly and win confidence of the people at this critical time. But nobody in the UNP realises that this is not a favourable situation for the UNP. The UNP leadership should realise that the four million votes of the UNP should not be gambled for the triumph of a candidate of another party.”
Attanayake further noted that the entire campaign of the common candidate was being handled by the office of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and that all decisions were made by the Kumaratunga’s office. He pointed out that the UNP was toothless in the entire campaign.
Democratic Party Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda who joined the Government on Monday along with Attanayaka was also present at yesterday’s press briefing.
Ketagoda said the respect and honour he had for Party Leader Sarath Fonseka would never diminish.
Ketagoda said although the common candidate was labelled as free of corruption and misconduct, Maithripala Sirisena was behind the Maradagahamula rice monopoly during the price control of rice in 2001.
