United National Party (UNP) Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa has informed the party that he would participate in its main rallies in the run-up to the elections to the Uva Provincial Council, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said today.

He told a media briefing that Mr. Premadasa had also confirmed his participation in the party’s 68th anniversary celebrations to be held in Badulla on September 6.

Mr. Attanayake said Mr. Premadasa would participate at main election rallies of the UNP to be held from September 10 to 17 in the Moneragala and Badulla Districts.

He said this was the result of an effort by the seniors of the UNP to bring about unity among the party.

Mr. Attanayake said several others including Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganeshan would also be on the party’s stage.

Meanwhile the UNP had suggested several key changes to the electoral system so as to ensure free and fair elections. The changes include a mixed system of Proportional Representation and the First-Past-the-Post system and to hold the general election and the provincial council elections on the same day. The party also proposed that votes should be counted in the polling booth itself. Mr. Attanayake said an electronic voting system should be introduced if the votes cannot be counted at the booths. (Yohan Perera and Sanath Desmond)