19 August 2020 12:00 am
By Yohan Perera
The only alternative left for the United National Party (UNP) is to ally with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa, newly-elected SJB MPs Hesha Withanage and Chaminda Wijesiri told a news conference yesterday.
“The electorate has shown what the UNP should do. Therefore, we invite them to join the SJB,” Mr. Wijesiri said.
“We hear that the UNP is hoping to reorganise itself. These plans have ended in failure in the past,” Mr. Withanage said. “We are sad about the fate which has befallen the UNP at the general elections. Parliament will be without UNP MPs for the first time in Sri Lanka’s political history. We are inviting those remaining in the party to join Mr. Premadasa.”
Sounding a different note the two MPs said the SJB together with the people would take to the streets if the proposed 20th Amendment is found to be draconian piece of legislation.
Mr. Wijesiri said the countrywide blackout on Monday might have been a tactic by the government to resort to the emergency purchase of power.