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Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday, 9 January 2020 01:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The United National Party (UNP) parliamentary group will meet today to discuss party leadership, the appointment of the Working Committee and disciplinary measures against party members, among other issues, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the media at the party’s headquarters yesterday.
He pointed out that the there were many views within the party concerning leadership and how to contest the upcoming General Election, which needed to be discussed before a common path was chosen.
Kariyawasam called on the Government to launch an independent inquiry into the leaked telephone conversation which had allegedly taken place between UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake and a group of individuals, which included law enforcement officers and members of the Judiciary. The UNP will back a Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to examine the issues, he told the Daily FT.
“We as the UNP will take disciplinary action against our members,” he stated, pointing out that action would be taken against Ramanayake.
“We are asking the Government to enforce the law of the land. If anyone has influenced law enforcement personnel or the Judiciary, they should be taken to task,” he declared.
Kariyawasam questioned how conversations which were recorded as evidence had ended up in the possession of Government MPs and media institutions within 24 hours, pointing out that the Government was responsible for the rule of law and due process being adhered to.
He charged that the Government was inventing a crisis to cover up its weaknesses and lapses.
“Please don’t use smokescreens. The Government is trying to mislead the public by leaking these recordings, and will keep distracting the public until the elections,” he added.
Commenting on the leadership issues and the run-up to the elections, UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva told the Daily FT that a clear agreement was essential to move ahead as a party.
“Tomorrow we should take a final decision on who will lead the UNP, and how the UNP is going to prepare for the elections,” he said.
“We have to have a clear agreement on leadership and a plan to face the election,” he added.
