UNP should stop harassing SJB members if talks are to commence: Tissa A

United National Party (UNP) should stop harassing the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) members if a discussion is to take place for a merger, SJB National Organizer Tissa Attanayake said today.

Mr. Attanayake was referring to the decision of the UNP to expel certain local government members who had supported SJB.

“We hope to file legal action to obtain injunction orders to stop the expulsion of local government (LG) members who are supporting SJB. Also we would like to emphasise that UNP should stop harassing the SJB members if talks on the merger are to commence,” Mr. Attanayake said today.

“The SJB Leader had clearly stated that the UNP could join SJB as one of its allies and go with the telephone symbol. However the grand old party should resolve its leadership issue first. UNP should realise the signal given by the people at the last general elections,” he added.

On a different note the SJB National Organiser said that shortcomings of the19th Amendment should be rectified, but the legislation should not be totally repealed. “We understand that there are issues pertaining to the independence of certain commissions such as the election commission. These should be rectified through a dialogue without repealing it. Also he questioned as to why the government wants to repeal the 19th Amendment if it is planning to introduce a new constitution. (Yohan Perera)