• He told the media that he had been sacked from office on the instructions of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe

By Ranjith Rajapakse and Aneesha Manage   

Chairman of the Nawalapitiya Urban Council Sasanka Sampath has been sacked from office by Central Province Governor Lalith U Gamage with effect from June 16.  

He told the media that he had been sacked from office on the instructions of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.  
“My father and several of my relatives have been strong UNPers who sacrificed their life for the well-being of the party. I joined the Youth Front of the party in 2002 and took to politics. I contested the last local government election facing challenges from former UNP parliamentarian Ananda Aluthgamage and SLPP member Mahindananda Aluthgamage who campaigned against me. However I was elected by the largest majority. UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders of the party never paid any attention on how I secured power in the UC,” He said   

 He further said he was ashamed to find that a defeated UNP leader who failed to win a single seat in parliament has decided to be a national list member. 

He said he would join hands with the Leader of the Opposition and campaign to defeat the government.   
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Tangalle Urban Council Ravindu Dilshan Wedarachchi has also been removed from office by the Elections Commission with immediate effect by gazette notification.  

The petition filed by a group of UNP members seeking a court order restraining the decision to abolish their party membership had been rejected by the Supreme Court. This resulted in the UNP members who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya from  being evicted from the party.   

• UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders of the party never paid any attention on how I secured power in the UC