Why not media take one day on behalf of SF? - Ranil

While Sarath Fonseka has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by a military court on trivial charges, where are those who supported him before the Presidential poll, asked United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Addressing party supporters and organizers in Kelaniya this morning (September 26), Mr. Wickremesinghe said that now only a leading Buddhist monk and he (Mr. Wickremesinghe) were the only ones left to raise a cry on behalf of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.

Fonseka has been convicted by a military court, not a civil court. The charges are trivial, like the purchase of a few batteries and such items from HiCorp. But when the Attorney General was asked whether Fonseka’s son-in-law Danuna Thillakaratne was involved in this issue, he had said no, but a company he was said to be connected to was involved. These purchases were not like the ones where millions of rupees were involved, said Mr. Wickremesinghe.

Referring to the media, Ranil Wickremesinghe said they were only involved in slinging mud at him and the UNP and also publishing cartoons seven days of the week. Why do not the media spend at least one day on behalf of Sarath Fonseka, he demanded.

The UNP has done its duty by Sarath Fonseka. “We cannot fight the government. So we have urged our supporters to chant ‘seth kavi’ for Fonseka at temples,” he said.

The old electoral system for elections is advantageous to the UNP. The party can win more seats if future elections are held under this system as proposed by the government, said the UNP and Opposition Leader.

Since the media is only interested in slinging mud at the UNP, this system is better for the party as it could not depend on the media for any sort of support, lamented Ranil Wickremesinghe.