Party members are free to talk to the media: Gayantha

UNP spokesman and Member of Parliament Gaynatha Karunatilleke said today that anyone in the party is free to talk to the media any time. He made this point with regard to the statement issued by the party recently banning members from talking to the media.

Mr. Karunatilleke who responded to a question raised by the journalists as to whether the members of the party except for the authorised few are banned from talking to the media altogether, Mr. Karunatilleke said any one is free to talk about the shortcomings of the government and other things. However he said no one but the authorised persons can talk of the internal matters of the party. “ This is nothing new as only the official spokesman, General Secretary and the party seniors were authorised to speak on the party matters right throughout,” he pointed out.

He said all matters pertaining to the party would be discussed at the next working committee meeting scheduled for October 27. The UNP MP said the suspension of Matara District MO Buddhika Pathirana and Western Provincial Council Member Shiral Laktilleke would also be taken up at the meeting.

Referring to the reports which said the deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya had objected to the suspension, Mr. Karunatilleke said any one is free to express any idea on the matter.

Meanwhile Mr. Pathirana said he is carrying out his services to the people in his constituency despite the suspension. “It is my duty to serve my voters irrespective of the party decision.

However he said he had sent a letter of explanation to the party general secretary Tissa Attanayake within seven days as instructed by the party. (Yohan Perera)