14 February 2020 11:50 pm
No one has gone against United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe other than emphasizing the need for unity to win the most number of seats at the general elections, MP Gamini Wijith Wijeyamuni de Soysa said today.
He said Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has followed the principles of the UNP founder D.S. Senanayake and had formed an alliance bringing all communities together. “The late Mr. Senanayake brought all communities together for his struggle to win independence. Mr. Premadasa has also followed the same principle and has formed a new alliance bringing many parties together. Only an alliance can win the most number of seats in the next Parliament,” the MP said.
He said Mr. Prremadasa was only working in accordance with the decisions made by the UNP working committee. “He was appointed as the leader of the new alliance, the head of the nomination board and had appointed a general secretary of the new alliance and will be the prime ministerial candidate.
The MP said he was one of the PA members who initiated the forming of the UPFA under the eetle leaf symbol which successfully contested the general elections in 2004. “UPFA not only won the 2004 elections but handed over the baton to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who was successful at the 2005 presidential election contesting under the betel leaf symbol. He recalled that the UPFA was formed while remaining as SLFPers. “UNP has also formed a new alliance with the approval of UNP working committee,” he said. (Yohan Perera)