pic by Pradeep Pathirana 

• Says this is just a beginning as far as we are concerned

By Yohan Perera 

Rating the United National Party (UNP) Satyagraha held at Hyde Park a success, its Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday was the beginning of a giant effort to bring in all political parties together and formulate a national policy to resurrect Sri Lanka’s economy.  

“This is just a beginning as far as we are concerned. Our effort was to bring in all parties together and formulate a national policy to enable economic resurgence. We have had a successful beginning,” Mr. Wijewardene said. 
“Our effort yesterday was to build up a common platform of all parties and not to make political speeches but to lay a foundation for a bright future,” he added. The participants of the Satyagraha came in three groups to Hyde Park, One group came from Darley Road, the other from Gangarama junction and the third group emerged from Vihara Mahadevi Park. 

Participation of a group from the 43rd Brigade led by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka was a salient feature of the event. Member of the 43rd Brigade, Former MP Karu Paranawithana told journalists that they participated in the event yesterday with its line of building up one large opposition force to take up SLPP. “Building up a common opposition force is the ideology of Mr. Ranawaka. We have also explained the importance of one large opposition force to Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. We don’t have one not kept one leg at SJB and the other at UNP but only trying to make our effort to build up a common opposition alliance a success,” he said. 

Tamil National Action, a breakaway group of Democratic People’s Alliance led by N. Kumaragurupran also participated in the event.    

pix by Pradeep Pathirana