UNP action on reforms later, going to grassroots first

The notice by the Colombo District Court on the injunction obtained by United National Party (UNP) members Earl Gunasekera and Lakshman Seneviratne reached the party on Friday evening, states the Working Committee (WC).

Further action on this matter will be taken after legal consultations, added the UNP WC. It also stated that the UNP has decided not to continue further with any of the agreements reached with UNP Parliamentarians Sri Ranga and Palani Digambaram and to severe all ties with the two since they supported the government on the 18th Amendment defying party policies. It will also rethink its connections with Prabha Ganesan after considering the charges by the Democratic Peoples Front of Mano Ganesan.

Those violating clauses 8.3 (a) and 13.3 of the UNP constitution, whether they be Parliament, provincial Council or Local Government members, will not be considered as UNP Parliamentary, Provincial council or Local Government group members.

Clause 8.3 (a) of the UNP constitution states that a member will abide by the decisions of the Parliamentary Group Leader. Clause 13.3 states that all members at all times should vote in Parliament in accordance with the party organiser’s decision.

Today’s UNP Working Committee meeting also decided to launch the ‘Grama Charika’ programme to take the party policies towards the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary said that the proposed reforms were not discussed in detail. It would be put forward to the members within 10 days and the outcome will be notified during the annual convention to be held in December.

The UNP claimed that the government was planning to convert the Colombo Municipal Council into an authority since it was unable to win it through an election.