Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe today accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of creating problems within the UNP and destroying it, similar to the manner in which King Ajatasatru created divisions during the righteous rule of the Licchavi king.

He stated that Ajatasatru, a king of the Magadha empire in ancient north India, had resorted to creating tensions within the democratic Vaishali Republic in order to conquer it and that the Rajapaksa government is engaging in the same tactic.

Comparing President Mahinda Rajapaksa to King Ajatasatru, the UNP leader stated that the ruling government is currently attempting to create internal rifts in the UNP and that it is even using the media for this purpose.

Wickramasinghe made these comments while addressing the 55th Convention of the United National Party (UNP) which was held in Colombo today (21).

He further stated that it is more difficult to survive in the country today than during the war and that while 1% of the population is living in luxury the rest are being told “go on the highway” by the Rajapaksa regime.

He also said that after President Chandrika the Rajapaksa government excessively obtained loans and therefore the country is largely indebted to foreign nations.

Four proposals presented to the party’s annual convention were unanimously approved today.

the proposals include the establishing of a new mechanism to bring the party into a victorious path, scrapping of the executive presidency, urging the government to provide relief to the people by stopping corruption and wastage and to establish a government which provides relief to the people.