Kicking off the United National Party (UNP) protest against the rising cost of living, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the protest was aimed at filling the people’s stomach. They will continue till the government provides relief to the masses, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Addressing the first such protest meeting at Kadawata this morning, Ranil Wickremesinghe said the protest was also to send KP (Kumaran Pathmanathan, the LTTE operative responsible for its international financial resources and procurements) in and to take Fonseka out.

The people are facing difficulties. He has told the government to bring down the cost of living and do away with unreasonable taxes, the Opposition leader said.

He also said that he had met President Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed several issues connected to the constitutional amendment. He also said that he told the President that he was going to Kadawata to begin the protest against the rising cost of living. If the constitution issue is solved, people will get a solution to one issue. But the cost of living will not come down.

The opposition is prepared to cooperate with the government to bring in people friendly amendments to the constitution. If it benefits the masses, the UNP and other parties in the opposition will definitely extend their support, not otherwise, added Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The final decision will have to be taken by the party. As he cannot take a lone decision, he had asked the President for an appointment on Monday (July 12) for UNP seniors to meet President Rajapaksa again to discuss further, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

“We will carry on this protest till the government provides relief to the masses. We are trying to make the government fill the people’s stomach,” Ranil Wickremesinghe said.