• We could not cater to the needs of our party members during our government

By Yohan Perera  

UNP will have to follow the policies of its founder and build up leaders who ensured representation of Muslim and Tamil communities in the party, its Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.
  
Speaking during meetings with party activists in the Ampara District, Mr. Wijewardene said the UNP should develop its own Muslim and Tamil leaders rather than depending on other minority parties. “We had good Muslim leaders such as A.C.S. Hameed and M.H. Mohommed in the past. It is high time we develop such leaders to represent Tamils and Muslims in our party,” he said.   

“We could not cater to the needs of our party members during our government. We formed the government with SLFP, who obtained all the ministries with employment opportunities. They provided jobs to their supporters. Even Rishad Bathiudeen’s party got a ministry where employment opportunities are available. Those in our camp did not get such opportunities. Some say former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe only focused on developing the nation while forgetting party members. We should allow our leader to concentrate on building the nation if we form a government in the future and let us take over the task of looking after the party members without putting that burden on Mr. Wickremesinghe,” he added.   

“We will visit Ampara once a month and will also visit areas such as Trincomalee, Kegalle and Ratnapura in the future,” he said.   

Also he said a common opposition alliance will come into place next year.  

At this meeting, SLFP member of the Karathivu Pradeshiya Sabha M. Kadeepan joined the UNP.  

SLFP Member of Karathivu Pradeshiya Sabha M. Kadeepan obtains UNP Membership from Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene at UNP activists meeting in Karathivu. 

Pic. by Pradeep Pathirana