At a news conference soon after parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara ended his media briefing the UNP said he crossed over to the government to further his personal agenda and not because of differences with the party leadership.
“This was a deal, various people cross over for various reasons; some have crossed over for financial gain or when faced with criminal cases or other offences. This is also one such crossover,” UNP MP Ajith P. Perera said.
MPs Harin Fernando, Ajith P. Perera, Ruwan Wijewardene and Ranjan Ramanayake, who attended the news conference, said Mr. Jayasekara had betrayed the people, the party and his conscience.
“He is my good friend and till yesterday he told us that he will never leave the UNP, he has betrayed us all. His rationale for joining the government is also contradictory. How can this man who vehemently opposed this dictatorial regime, suddenly embrace the policies that promote nepotism,” Mr. Perera asked.
Actor turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake said there was no better actor in this country than Jayasekara.
“He has fooled us all and he is the best actor in this country for doing this for such a long time. He continued to fool people even at the end saying he wouldn’t leave the UNP and then suddenly turned around. We all know he is a talented man, but his talent doesn’t compensate for his lack of conscience or integrity,” he said.
In a scathing attack on his “friend”, MP Harin Fernando insisted that the calibre of the politician in Mr. Jayasekara was personified during his speech and subsequent interview.
“The remarks he made in parliament and thereafter speaks volumes of the kind of person he is. I’m disappointed and I am frustrated of politics as a whole due to this episode.
“He promised me last evening that he wouldn’t leave and he betrayed us all. What kind of a person is this man? Does he not have an iota of conscience to stick to his word,” a visibly disappointed Mr. Fernando asked.
(By Hafeel Farisz and Chaturanga Pradeep)
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