The party would perish soon: UNP led United Bhikkhu Front

17 August 2011 07:34 am Views - 5093

The UNP led United Bhikkhu Front today warned that the party would soon perish if it continues in its present form since it had lost its Sinhala Buddhist vote base and continue to lose the minority vote bases as well.

President of the United Bhikkhu Front Ven. Metiyagoda Gunaratana Thera told a news conference today that some in the party had failed to understand the importance of the Buddhist clergy.

He said the party should also focus as to why it had started losing the minority vote as well lately.

The Ven Thera said the present UNP leader Ranil Wickemesinghe should understand the people’s desires. “We are not saying that Mr. Wickremesinghe is a mean person but he should feel the people’s pulse and move out and help to bring about changes to the party.

Ven Gunaratana Thera said the need of the moment is for a real opposition and not an opposition which works according to the government agenda.

Ven Kotugoda Jothiratana Thera said the neo liberal policies of the party had resulted in the present crisis. He recalled how the UNP government was interested in decorating the City of Colombo for Christmas in 2002 without showing the same enthusiasm for Vesak.

The Ven Theras who were unanimous in calling for party reforms, said the time had come for a complete change of the party including the leadership. They therefore stressed that Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya should be made the leader of the party while Mr. Wickremesighe should remain as a senior leader.   (Yohan Perera)