Audio: Fielding SF was a mistake: UNP

17 October 2012 10:02 am - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The decision to field former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate in the 2010 presidential election was a mistake, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake speaking to the Daily Mirror said

“We fielded a common candidate during the 2010 Presidential election with the hope of victory and we expected that the candidate fielded would secure more votes than Ranil Wickremesinghe received in the 2005 Presidential election. Unfortunately that was not the case and we lost the election. Therefore it is clear that the decision we took at the time was wrong”.

Attanayake also said that tomorrow’s rally organized by the United Bikkhu Front would benefit the government.

“What Sarath Fonseka is doing now will clearly benefit the government. By dividing the UNP and the opposition he seems to be helping the government continue with its practices”.(Hafeel Farisz)

AUDIO

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Comments - 29

Blue Ribbon Lokka Wednesday, 17 October 2012 11:53 AM

Mr.Tissa you are talking out of turn these days ? Watch your STEP

Jiffry Thursday, 18 October 2012 08:31 AM

Mr Tissa..... With this attitude, the UNP will never come to power.

Oshanda Thursday, 18 October 2012 06:27 AM

Biggest mistake was voting for UNP so far.we made the mistake of electing some Morons to the Parliament.

KD Thursday, 18 October 2012 06:12 AM

So all those noise about computer jilmart just to fool the nation?

Danushka Desilva Wednesday, 17 October 2012 05:24 PM

Sing to the tune of baa baa black sheep

"Tissa Tissa have we any fools?
yes sir yes sir us three fool
one is my master, another is my self, third one is ravi ayya who lives down the well" :)

DM pls publish this, we all need some humour

Mudiyanse Wednesday, 17 October 2012 04:26 PM

Had he won ?!!! %**?/&

Upul Wednesday, 17 October 2012 04:15 PM

You guys make decisions, and when they don't work (More often than not) just say they are MISTAKES! Then how in the world we can ensure that your next decision is not a mistake?

Jayantha Wednesday, 17 October 2012 03:35 PM

Absolutely true

UP Wednesday, 17 October 2012 02:16 PM

It is also a mistake , selected RW as a leader. Note this Please.

YEHIYA Wednesday, 17 October 2012 02:15 PM

That is the only correct thing done last 17 years. otherwise that election UNP vote is below 15%

Banda Wednesday, 17 October 2012 01:28 PM

At least it something that the UNP is realizing their mistake. UNP should stick to its principle and first love this country above party lines to succeed.

Calistus Jayatilleke Wednesday, 17 October 2012 12:30 PM

True to a certain extent. After all, SF did not have a voter base at all in the country and there was no time for him to create one within the short time that was available to him. Almost all votes he got were of the UNP with a sprinkling of JVP votes. And it is also true that not all UNPers voted for SF and quite a considerable number abstained as a silent protest at the UNP for agreeing to field a common candidate. Some even compared it to a young man getting married but sending his bride on honeymoon with his neighbour!

Shaik Ahamath Wednesday, 17 October 2012 12:10 PM

Sarath Fonseka was not a mistake in 2010 but he saved the political life of Ranil as his certain defeat would have destroyed him. However if the people had voted exactly as they did in the previous election, SF would have won hands down. Unfortunately for SF the electorate was much too politically savvy and they recognised what a gem Mahinda Rajapakse was and they have been proved right.

Nodrog Wednesday, 17 October 2012 12:06 PM

Not a mistake. It was a calculated move to save Ranil the embarrassment of losing out to SF.

Shan Wednesday, 17 October 2012 11:56 AM

This is Sour Grapes story.

sam Wednesday, 17 October 2012 12:00 AM

talk about your weakness and not others weakness. unp has no backbone.to topple the gvt. had mr ranil stood as the presidential candidate non of the citizena would have ever voted for him including me. btw i can remember that unp claimed that the election.results per fixee by certain forces and the actual stats would have made sf the president. but how.come you say that sf had not recieved enough prefential votes. via DM Android App

kondeybendapucheena Wednesday, 17 October 2012 11:20 AM

how long took him to realized that

Managala Wednesday, 17 October 2012 11:13 AM

it is now evident that majority of UNP voters didnt vote for SF..

lahiru Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:48 AM

Cant understand how the biggest dictator in the country is asking others to be more democratic.

Minister Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:48 AM

If what he says is true, there will be massive support and publicity from the Government for SF's rally. Whom are you saying this to Tissa?

Minister Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:45 AM

Did you ask those who voted for SF before making this statement or did they tell you this to make this statement? Does your voice represent those who voted for SF?

kappa Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:41 AM

So in other words there wasn't any computer jilamart? It was a free and fair election is what you are saying?

mew Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:49 AM

Rani and his Kollas (including you tissa) have already divided and destroyed the great party UNP

sirisena Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:37 AM

Then what would have been the right decision? To field Ranil?. What would have happened, if Ranil contested that election.. He would have not got what SF got.

UNP has been making all the wrong decisions in past decade or so. Fielding SF was a correct decision, by the UNP leader to safeguard him from an another Presidential election defeat? Ranil knows that and also Tissa.... Ha.... Ha... Ha..

D.Silva Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:31 AM

Ha, ha ha.......... 59% voters knew it.

AMAR Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:30 AM

Even Ranil contested in that election, he would have taken lower than what SF received.Because, MR was at the peak of his popularity after wining the war.UNP was mistaken that putting SF would give the opposition an edge.This is led to serious crisis in srilankan political history.Thissa, please accept it.

misunderstood Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:29 AM

was it the only?? two wrongs does not make one right!!

k. Raja Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:28 AM

Its a mistake
not a jilmart

trevor Wednesday, 17 October 2012 10:22 AM

it was done purposely for Ranil to stay as the leader of the opposition for another 06 years. do not lie. You are also responsible for the poor status of the UNP.

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Audio: Fielding SF was a mistake: UNP

Comments - 29

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