Four proposals including the setting up of a leadership council, which were presented to the 55th UNP convention held at Sirikotha, were unanimously approved a short while ago.
The setting up of a new mechanism to bring the party into a victorious path including the forming of a leadership council, scrapping of executive presidency, urging the government to provide relief to the people by curbing corruption and wastage and establishing a government which provides relief to the people are among the proposals which were approved at the convention.
The proposals were presented by UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and seconded by Parliamentarian D.M. Swaminathan.
Addressing the convention, party National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe alleged that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was attempting to destroy the UNP just like ancient king Ajasaththa destroyed the Licchavis clan in India by turning one against another.
“Ajasaththa knew that the Licchavis were powerful, therefore he destroyed them by sending various forces. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is using the very same technique by sending his allies to destroy our party. We, as a party should stick together to be powerful like Licchavis,” he said.
He said each UNP member should come together and work hard without any disagreements, to topple the present government in 2014. “I have given many powers to the leadership council towards a political victory in a general election in 2014 because I want a UNP government and we can’t stay in the opposition forever. Therefore we should work hard towards achieving our main goal,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)