UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake today stated that certain individuals are talking about protecting the United National Party while justifying the attack on Sirikotha.

The United National party operates according to its constitution and disciplinary rules, he said, adding, that there should be discipline in a party.

He stated that the case filed over the attack on the UNP headquarters – Sirikotha in 2011 and the damages caused on public property is still not being heard in court even after 2 years have passed.

Those who were charged over the incident were granted bail within 24 hours, he told reporters in Kandy today.

Attanayake stated that certain individuals are talking about protecting the United National Party while justifying the attack on Sirikotha. “That is an amazing story.”

It is true that democracy in the country should be protected and that parties also should operate democratically, but the discipline within the party is even more important, he said

He stated that the President, addressing the central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, had recently emphasized on the importance of maintaining discipline within the party and respecting its leadership and that those who fail to do so should be expelled from the party.

“That is the same thing we are doing,” the Kandy District MP pointed out.   

If discipline is not maintained within the party and attempts are being made to create a division, we have to act against it, he stated.

He stated that Provincial Councilor Maithri Gunaratne had recently stated in an interview with a local newspaper that the UNP General Secretary’s actions are harming the United National Party. 

Then why are they demonstrating by claiming to uplift the party, he questioned. 

Attanayake claimed that all the protests and campaign by UNP dissidents Maithri Gunratne and Shiral Lakthilake are being done according to a “contract” accepted to accomplish the “necessities of the government”. 

He urged the public not to be deceived by those who are acting according to government contracts to destroy the party and according to the personal agendas of certain individuals.