Irresponsible talk by members cost UNP its voters, says Sajith

The voters have distanced themselves from the United National Party (UNP) because several members had demeaned the military victories during the recently concluded war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said Hambantota District parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa.

Former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s son, Sajith was addressing a meeting at Gurutalawa at the Yatinuwara electorate in Kandy last evening to raise awareness on his Jathika Jeewaya Programme. Mr. Premadasa launched this programme within three electorates in the Gampaha District last week as well.

Adding further, Sajith Pramadasa said the UNP suffered erosion in its support as some had uttered irresponsible comments when the Sri Lankan armed forces were gaining victory after victory in the fight against the LTTE.

When the Army captured Thoppigala, some in the UNP had said that Thoppigala was only a jungle, while some had accused the then government and the military of claiming to be advancing towards Kilinochchi (once a LTTE stronghold) and instead going to Medawachchi (a town near Anuradhapura). Talks like these had driven away UNP supporters since they were under the impression that the party was not putting country first, claimed Sajith Premadasa.

His move to win back the voters by working towards the progress of the country will usher a new era of confidence and betterment for the UNP supporters, claimed Mr. Pramadasa.

Meanwhile, there was reportedly opposition and concern within the UNP hierarchy to Sajith Premadasa’s Jathika Jeewaya programme. Some reports stated that it had ordered Mr. Premadasa to stop the programme in Gampaha.

However, when Adaderana inquired about this issue from UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake a short while ago, he said that the party did not order Sajith to stop his programme in Gampaha, as reported by certain media. However he said that it had been discussed by the party top brass.