Friday Sep 17, 2021
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Friday, 12 September 2014 01:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
UNP Leadership Council Member and Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera has slammed moves to scuttle the party’s hopes for the Uva election by vested interests.
Addressing a press briefing at Sirikotha on Wednesday, Samaraweera charged that certain media institutions were attempting to sow discord within the UNP after the party leadership moved to reinstate Sajith Premadasa as Deputy Leader.
“Ranil Wickremesinghe has made a decision to unite the UNP in order to ensure all Sri Lankans have a better future,” he said. The moves were aimed at motivating UNP membership that has been in opposition for 20 years, Samaraweera noted.
“It is obvious that while the Leadership is engaged in this effort, certain media institutions are seeking to scuttle his efforts. We see this every time an election comes around, that particular media mudalalis start attacking Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he charged.
“The UNP Leadership will not bow to these tactics that are carried out on the basis of Government agendas,” the UNP MP pledged.
Samaraweera also made a case for a common Opposition platform to defeat the Government at a future national election.
Urging Premadasa to enter the fray and work to ensure the party’s victory, Samaraweera said that at this stage there was no point on harping on party symbols and colour. “To defeat this corrupt regime, all those opposed to the Government, red, blue, green or yellow have to feel they can come together on a single platform, he explained.
“After 20 September, this country moves into a crucial juncture,” he said. “The UNP Leader is trying to ensure we are ready for that battle for that forward march.”
“We must be wary of enemies disguised themselves as friends,” Samaraweera added.
The Government has forgotten the people of Uva, Samaraweera asserted, adding that the people in the province could no longer recall the face of their Chief Minister.
“Harin Fernando has sacrificed his parliamentary seat and is leading the Uva polls campaign in order to ensure this country becomes a country for all Sri Lankans,” he explained.
