Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

• UNP would welcome the ideas and proposals of UNP members at the grass root level

By Yohan Perera  

The United National Party (UNP) will focus on its own local politicians rather than focusing on the members of other political parties which it associates with in the future, its Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said.   

Speaking to UNP activists in Batticaloa he said his party will not make the mistake of relying on other parties to resolve the issues of the people. “We have made the mistake of relying on other parties who have allied with us to resolve the issues faced by you in the past. We allocated funds to members of local bodies belonging to other parties. However we will allocate funds to UNP members of local bodies in areas such as Batticaloa in the future,” Mr. Wijewardene told party activists in Batticaloa.  

He said UNP would welcome the ideas and proposals of UNP members at the grass root level. “We will convert the UNP into a vibrant force. We assure that we are committed to building our party. We also pledge to bring back those who have left us.  Myself and others remained with the UNP despite foreseeing our defeat. We would have gotten into Parliament if we joined Sajith and would have got a ministerial appointment if we joined the Government. However we remained with the UNP,” he said.  

“We have to make UNP a vibrant political force as people need an alternative, while the popularity of the Government is fast diminishing,” he added. 

Pic by Pradeep Pathirana