Sajith urges reform in UNP

A leading parliamentarian in Sri Lanka’s main opposition has urged a re-organisation of the party after it was once again defeated by the ruling coalition at the general elections.

Sajith Premadasa, the Hambantota district parliamentarian of United National Party (UNP) says the party needs to be reformed to represent the grassroots, including labourers, farmers and fishermen.

“The reform should begin with where the power is centred,” he told BBC’s Elmo Fernando.

The UNP only secured 46 seats, out of 180 declared so far, while the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 117 seats.

‘Creating crisis’

The UNP that won two seats at the 2004 general election in Hambantota district, the stronghold of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has secured the two seats in 08 April polls under Mr. Premadasa’s leadership.

“The main reason for the failure to implement reform was that the power is pretty much centralised in the party so the responsibility lies with the party leader,” said Mr. Premadasa, the son of former President R Premadasa.

Some UNP parliamentarians however argue that it is important to maintain the unity in the party by working together.

“This is not the time to create another crisis by pulling the rug under its feet” Gampaha district MP, Jayalath Jayawardene told BBC Sandeshaya.

However, Mr. Premadasa says that the leadership should recognise the importance of the reform for the progress of the party in future elections.

But Mr. Jayawardene is of the opinion that it is unfair to blame only the party leadership for all the failures.

“I think we should honestly look back whether we all did fulfil our responsibilities,” he said.

^BBC