Karu reiterates obtaining lifetime membership

Under 1000M membership drive in 2000

• By paying a sum of Rs.11,000

By Yohan Perera   

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya over the weekend refuted the claim made by the UNP that he is not a lifetime member of the party and stressed that he had obtained membership of the party in the year 2000 under the 1000M membership drive programme. 

   “Mr. Jayasuriya had obtained the party membership under the 1000M programme in the year 2000. As per the agreement reached by the office bearers of the party a person’s membership was made valid for 50 years. Therefore, his membership of the party was valid for 50 years,” a statement from Mr. Jayasuriya’s media unit said.   
The statement said he had obtained the party membership under the 1000M programme by paying a sum of Rs.11,000.   

Meanwhile, Chairman of Weligama Pradeshiya Sabha Rehan Jayawickrama said he and few other UNP local government members have obtained a stay order from the Appeal Court to suspend his removal from the chairmanship of the Pradeshiya Sabha till Wednesday, September 2.   

Mr. Jayawickrama and others were removed from the posts by the Commission of Elections following the request made by UNP Chairman Akila Viraj Kariyawasam recently.