I will remain with the UNP: Buddhika

13 October 2011 05:00 pm

Responding to his suspension from the party, UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana today said he had not acted against the interests of the party and would remain in the in the UNP till the end of his political career.

“I started my career with the UNP and will end my career with the same party,” he said when reached by the Daily Mirror. Mr. Pathirana said he had pledged in writing that he would not leave the party and would never go back on his word. “I have placed my signature in this document with blood and therefore would not change my word,” he added.

Refuting the charges made against him he said he had never asked the people to vote for a party of their choice but always canvassed for the UNP,” he added. The UNP MP said he had written to General Secretary Tissa Attanayake in response to an explanation he had called for.

Besides, Mr. Pathirana said, he had not received any written or verbal notification on the party’s decision to suspend him to date.

Meanwhile UNP Member of the Western Provincial Council Shiral Lakthilake who has also been suspended form the party said he would challenge this decision while remaining with the party. “We will never leave the party,” he said

Mr. Lakthiake too refuted the chargers made against him stating that he had not campaigned for the party at the recently concluded local government election, stating that he had been engaged in the campaign right along. He said he had already written to the General Secretary explaining his position. 

He said too that had not received any formal notification of his suspension just like in the case of Mr. Pathirana.

Some of the leading lawyers attached to the party including Sourthen Provincial Council Member Maithiri Gunaratne is of the opinion that the suspension is not valid as such decisions should be made by the working committee and the advisory committee. “None of these committees have made such a decision,” he said (Yohan Perera)