AUDIO: More UNPers will support Govt, says Earl: Will stick to party decision, says Thalatha
September 4, 2010 12:46 pm
There are seven or eight others from the United National Party (UNP) who will support the government over the Constitutional Amendments (CA) when it is presented to parliament on Wednesday, Polonnaruwa District UNP Parliamentarian Earl Gunasekera told Adaderana this morning.
Those UNP members who have already expressed their support towards the CA have already begun discussions with these UNP MPs, added Mr. Gunasekera.
Their attempt was not only to make these UNP members agree to support the CA, but to bring the benefits of such an amendment to the masses and the country in general, said Earl Gunasekera.
UNP Parliamentarians Earl Gunasekera, Lakshman Seneviratne and Manusha Nanayakkara expressed their support to the government over the Constitutional Amendments yesterday (Sept. 03).
However, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has said that the members should stick to the party decision of unconditionally opposing the proposed amendments and that any member going against the Working Committee decision will be severely dealt with by the UNP.
Meanwhile, UNP Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Thalatha Athukorala told Adaderana that as members of the Working Committee, several members could have several opinions regarding the issue. But as UNP members they should stick to the party decision.
“The UNP has decided to oppose the Constitutional Amendments. As a member I have to stand by the decision,” Thalatha Athukorala told Adaderana this morning.
Expressing her personal opinion, Ms. Athukorala said former President J.R. Jayewardene, when he took over the Presidency acted in an intelligent and statesman like manner. But with the change in persons who held the post after him, the role of the Executive Presidency too has undergone transformations. Her opinion was that the Executive Presidency should be abolished altogether, she added.
“However, as a member of the Working Committee I have to abide by the party decision to oppose the Constitutional Amendments,” Thalatha, sister of former UNP stalwart Gamini Athukorala said.
