Tissa tells Karu not to bring party into disrepute
17 October 2012 02:48 am
The United National Party (UNP) lashed out at its Gampaha District MP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday and asked him not to bring the party into disrepute. In a strongly worded three-page letter addressed to Mr. Jayasuriya, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that there would not be a future for him (Mr. Jayasuriya) in the party unless he respected the party leadership and the collective decisions of the Working Committee.
There is a difference of opinion between Mr. Jayasuriya and the UNP leadership over his decision to attend a politically rally with former army commander Sarath Fonseka tomorrow. In response to an October 15h letter sent by Mr. Jayasuriya to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mr. Attanayake said that if Mr. Jayasuriya was sincerely interested in working for the abolition of the executive presidency, he should have discussed the matter directly with the leadership instead of copying his letter to the media to get publicity.
Quoting the UNP Constitution, the general secretary said that a member should not participate in any political activities of any entity or any individual not affiliated to the party.
Mr. Attanayake wrote, “You supported this stand by holding up your hand. I would like to point out that there is no barrier for you to carry out political activities with parties that have officially teamed up with the UNP.
Also, the UNP general secretary said, Mr. Jayasuriya was a person who had betrayed the party. The political movement to be formed by Mr. Fonseka was having discussions to join the UNP-led alliance. In such a context, he said, it was unethical for him to join this rally on the pretext of campaigning for the abolition of the executive presidency.
Referring to Mr. Jayasuriya’s crossover to the government in 2007, he said that Mr. Jayasuriya had exposed himself.
He continued, “Now you are trying to team up with a political movement that includes the former chief justice, Sarath N. Silva. Mr. Silva is responsible for various undemocratic acts. He has admitted that he gave rulings for the strengthening of executive presidency.”