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| Saturday, 18 December 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Bogollagama challenges expulsion from UNP by Wasantha Ramanayake Advanced Technology and National Enterprise Development Minister Rohitha Bogollagama challenged his expulsion from the United National Party before the Supreme Court yesterday. Petitioner cited the UNP, its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrama, General Secretary N.V.K.K. Weragoda, Parliamentary General Secretary Priyani Wijesekera and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake as the respondents. The Petitioner stated that he was one of the members of the said Party who took up the position that the two main Political Parties of this Country, should join hands in order to solve the basic and fundamental problems faced by the Country, with special emphasis on bringing about a Political Solution to the Ethnic Crisis. The petitioner stated that the theme of the UNP at its election campaign in 2001 was that it should take the leading role in promoting and establishing a system of cohabitation between the two main Political Parties and this was one of the promises given to the People in its Election Manifesto seeking a mandate to form a United National Party Government. The petitioner stated that in keeping with the said theme, he advocated and actively participated in promoting a new political culture based on good-will and co-operation between the two main Political Parties in respect of major National issues. The position was reflected in various publications in the Print as well as the interviews in Electronic Media. The petitioner stated that the said stand taken up by him was discussed on numerous occasions with leading members of the Party, including the 2nd Respondent - its Leader, Karu Jayasuriya - the Deputy Leader of the Party, Mahinda Samarasinghe - the Chief Whip, K.N. Choksy, Tyronne Fernando, Karunasena Kodituwakku and they had endorsed the views of the Petitioner. The petitioner stated that the President having followed various statements made by the petitioner on the importance of the two main Political Parties' working together, invited the petitioner, by her letter dated November 9 to discuss the means of working out a compromise on the main contentious issues. The President made reference therein to the stand taken by the Rev. Mahanayaka Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He stated that pursuant to the discussions he had with the President, who sought the participatory involvement of all Members of Parliament towards structuring a concerted effort in the implementation of a broad based National Agenda, by her letter dated November 15, invited him to join the Government in the service of the Nation. In particular the President referred to the following three important areas to which priority should be given by all patriotic citizens of the country. Strengthening the democratic institutions and implementing electoral reforms towards a greater democratization of the Government and Society, Ending the war and bringing about a political solution to the ethnic crisis, focusing even more strongly the Government's programme to lead the Country into the Millennium as a developed and an enlightened nation. |
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