UNP leadership issue “not a crisis” - Harin
July 29, 2011 05:08 pm
The 22 percent drop in votes received by the UNP in the recently concluded election is not nearly because of the UNP. It is due to the Jaffna District votes also having been accumulated and the percentage being made through that, says MP Harin Fernando.
Therefore we could honestly say that the whole reason for this loss is the new system implemented by the government to hold elections on separate areas on separate occasions and all the Ministers working in different electorates, the Parliamentarian accused.
He said the UNP would like to emphasize to the government, “Please make sure you have a free and fair election for the whole country at once and the people’s impression will be very much different to what has been constructed at the last election.”
Speaking on the conflict over the new leadership of the party United National Party (UNP) Badulla District MP Harin Fernando firmly stated that “it is not a crisis” and said he has spoken personally to Co-depity Leader, Karu Jayasuriya regarding the matter.
“What he has said is that if the party is agreeing and if the party is giving him the nod to go ahead as the leader he would do that.” Only if the party gives its blessings to him, he highlighted.
Karu Jayasuriya clearly mentioned that he wants Ranil Wickramasinghe also to be given the due respect, Fernando stressed. “Plus he wants Sajith Premadasa and new party members, like us, all to work together as one.”
“His main objective is to unite the party.”
“So I would like to emphasize that there is no conflict so far.”
UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is currently overseas and is expected to return on August 04. Harin Fernando says that when the Opposition Leader returns to the island the issue and means to work it out will be discussed thoroughly and they will proceed accordingly.
Personally I am very happy if the party can unite towards winning elections, he expressed adding that, if Karu Jayasuriya is becoming the person to bring Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickramasinghe together and to work as one team that is our victory.
“For sure, in the coming elections we will show our strength and that is what the people are expecting.”
Therefore we could honestly say that the whole reason for this loss is the new system implemented by the government to hold elections on separate areas on separate occasions and all the Ministers working in different electorates, the Parliamentarian accused.
He said the UNP would like to emphasize to the government, “Please make sure you have a free and fair election for the whole country at once and the people’s impression will be very much different to what has been constructed at the last election.”
Speaking on the conflict over the new leadership of the party United National Party (UNP) Badulla District MP Harin Fernando firmly stated that “it is not a crisis” and said he has spoken personally to Co-depity Leader, Karu Jayasuriya regarding the matter.
“What he has said is that if the party is agreeing and if the party is giving him the nod to go ahead as the leader he would do that.” Only if the party gives its blessings to him, he highlighted.
Karu Jayasuriya clearly mentioned that he wants Ranil Wickramasinghe also to be given the due respect, Fernando stressed. “Plus he wants Sajith Premadasa and new party members, like us, all to work together as one.”
“His main objective is to unite the party.”
“So I would like to emphasize that there is no conflict so far.”
UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe is currently overseas and is expected to return on August 04. Harin Fernando says that when the Opposition Leader returns to the island the issue and means to work it out will be discussed thoroughly and they will proceed accordingly.
Personally I am very happy if the party can unite towards winning elections, he expressed adding that, if Karu Jayasuriya is becoming the person to bring Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickramasinghe together and to work as one team that is our victory.
“For sure, in the coming elections we will show our strength and that is what the people are expecting.”
