Mangala reminds Sajith “We in UNP are not at war with each other”

Saturday, 13 September 2014 01:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera yesterday issued a statement clarifying his remarks at a press conference on Wednesday regarding the challenges faced by his fellow MP Sajith Premadasa after the latter counterattacked the former on Thursday. The statement issued by Samaraweera is as follows:

Responding to remarks I made at a news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Sajith Premadasa has issued as usual a vitriolic statement attacking me for “challenging” him. This could not be further from the truth. I merely echoed the view of thousands of UNP activists when I said that his words of total support for our leader in the lead up to the next Presidential Election should be matched by his deeds in the weeks ahead. Hence, it is by no means a challenge that emanates from me. It is a challenge for Sajith Premadasa, to prove his genuine loyalty and sincere commitment to upholding party unity and discipline; that is the expectation of every member of the United National Party.

I do not wish to strengthen the enemy by commenting on the other irrelevant personal accusations he and other media institutions championing his cause are levelling against me especially at a time when an extremely decisive Provincial Election has entered its final phase. That Mr. Premadasa has chosen to devote all his venom at me at a time when he should focus on the misdeeds of the UPFA Government is indeed sad. We in the UNP are not at war with each other after all. Our battle should be, must be, with the Government. Especially so at this moment, when a courageous young Parliamentarian has gone so far as to sacrifice his position to strengthen our party’s fortunes at the Uva elections, setting a good example to those of us who are fighting for positions even at the cost of destabilising the party and propping up a corrupt regime.