Karu claims to be a firm UNPer

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today denounced the claims made by some sections in the UNP that he is not a member of a party and stressed that he had obtained the membership for the year 2020.

The statement that the former Speaker is not a member of UNP is false and is an argument that is being made without a proper knowledge about the party,” a statement from the former Speaker's media unit said.

“Mr. Jayasuriya has obtained the lifetime membership of the party under the 1000m-membership drive launched by him together with party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Besides he applied for the membership of the party as soon as he vacated the post of Constitutional Council Chairman on August 21, 2020. Drawing criteria which was not considered when deciding to filed outsiders as presidential candidates will push the party and its membership to wilderness,” the statement said.

Also the statement said Mr. Jayasuriya made a comment on Eranga Weliangage before SJB was formed.

The statement added that Mr. Jayasuriya offered to take up the responsibility of resurrecting UNP following the requests which cannot be turned down.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that SJB has invited Mr. Jayasuriya to join the party.(Yohan Perera)