UNP says its process for National List is exemplary

Saturday, 22 August 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United National Party (UNP) said yesterday that it conducted itself in an exemplary manner when deciding on the final National List nominations.

In a statement UNP General Secretary Kabir Hashim said the party stuck with the policy of not using the National List to give access to Parliament to candidates who lost in the General Election despite many pressures. On the contrary many other parties have done so following the often criticised means.

“UNP has lived up to the true spirit and promise of good governance,” Hashim added.

He said that the National List often runs into problems when the final nominations are to be agreed upon hence managing the process is a difficult task. In that connection, the UNP statement said a popular figure in the Party’s activism Krishantha Cooray who was in the original National List had volunteered to be not available for consideration. The Party commended Cooray’s gesture and sacrifice made in the larger interests of the UNP.

As per the UNP statement Cooray had emphasised that to sincerely work for the betterment of the Party, representation in Parliament isn’t a necessary condition.

Given this and other developments, Hashim said UNP has set an example for others with regard to the National List.