VIDEO: Self immolation was for party unity, says Karu
July 27, 2010 01:48 pm
The person who set fire to himself opposite the United National Party (UNP) headquarters Sirikotha did so for the sake of party unity, said UNP deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya.
The person named Rienzie Algama was a longstanding party loyalist. A UNP supporter since the time of Dudley Senanayake, he used to speak often to him over the phone. He had always urged for unity within the UNP, said Mr. Jayasuriya addressing the media during a briefing at the Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo this morning (July 27).
The day before the incident, Mr. Algama had spoken to him on the phone. On the day of the incident too he had spoken to him and said that he (Mr. Algama) was fed up and wanted to leave politics forever, said Karu Jayasuriya and added that he had advised Mr. Algama to be patient and not take any hasty decisions.
After a few minutes he heard that Mr. Algama had set himself on fire near Sirikotha, said Mr. Jayasuriya. When he spoke to the victim at the National Hospital, Mr. Algama had said that he did the self immolation for the sake of party unity and urged the members to unite, said Mr. Jayasuriya.
Mr. Jayasuriya said the party condoled with the family of the deceased.
Rienzie Algama was a party supporter who never asked anything from the party. He always worked for the betterment of the UNP, said party the General Secretary addressing the media.
Mr. Attanayake said that certain sections of the media were attempting to play politics with the unfortunate death. He added that Mr. Algama had sacrificed his life for the party and nobody should make use of the incident for the sake of party politics.
“He was not a supporter of any faction in the UNP. He always sacrificed everything for the party as a whole,” added Mr. Attanayake.
Gampaha District UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena commended the staff of the Kalubowila and the National Hospitals for doing their best to save the life of Rienzie Algama.
