Split within UNP inevitable: MR

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today claimed it is inevitable that the United National Party (UNP) will be split irrespective of who becomes the party's nominee at the upcoming presidential election.

He expressed these views at a meeting held with the heads of the local government bodies controlled by the SLPP at its head office in Battaramulla, Colombo.

Mr.Rajapaksa said if a party member doesn’t respect the party leadership, he could not continue to work under the same leader.

“Today, there is a team of people within the UNP, who don’t respect the party leadership. Regardless of the candidate, the UNP will field, their intra-party conflict will continue to intensify the dispute,” he said.

He said even if the troika of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya all contested the election, the people had already decided to ensure the SLPP’s victory at the presidential election. (Lahiru Pothmulla)