UNP takes to streets calling for national policy; Champika joins

Rating the United National Party (UNP) Sathyagraha held at Hyde Park a success, its Deputy Leader Runwa Wijewardene said today was the beginning of a giant effort to bring in all political parties together and formulate a national policy to resurrect Sri Lanka’s economy.

“This is just a beginning as far as we are concerned. Our effort was to bring in all parties together and formulate a national policy to enable economic resurgence. We have had a successful beginning,” Mr. Wijewardena said.

“Our effort today is to build up a common platform of all parties and not to make political speeches but to lay a foundation for a bright future,” he added.

The participants of the Sathyagraha came in three groups to Hyde Park. One group came from Darley Road, the other from Gangarama junction and the third group emerged from Vihara Mahadevi Park.

Participation of a group from the 43rd Brigade led by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka was a salient feature of the event. Member of the 43rd Brigade Former MP Karu Paranawithana told journalists that they participated in the event with its line of building up one large opposition force to take on SLPP. “Building up a common opposition force is the ideology of Mr. Ranawaka. We have also explained the importance of one large opposition force to Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. We don’t have one leg in the SJB and the other in UNP but we are only trying to make our effort to build up a common opposition alliance a success,” he said.

 Tamil National Action, a breakaway group of Democratic People’s Alliance led by N. Kumaragurupran  also participated in the event. (Yohan Perera)