UNP loyalists laud Court decision - Minister Rajitha

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Unlike previous UNP leaders, the present leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has violated the party Constitution by entering into an agreement with Mangala Samaraweera, Construction and Engineering Services Minister Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

Addressing the UNP Democratic Group press briefing, Senaratne said the recent court decision has clearly indicated that the UNP constitution has been violated by entering into an agreement with the 'M Group' of Mangala Samaraweera and some narrow-sighted decisions of the party leader. Therefore the courts has issued an interim injunction against the MoU.

According to the agreement Samaraweera has been considered as a party or group even though the M Group consists of only one person. Under the MOU the UNP will contest elections along with the Mangala fraction as 'Jathika Sabawa'.

"In such a situation the historic elephant symbol of the UNP will be dropped," the Minister said.

The UNP D group has been fighting for democracy in the Party. Though the party leader pretends that he stands for democracy he has not received the approval of the Executive Committee before entering into an agreement with M Group, said the Secretary to the D Group R.A.D. Sirisena.

"The Court's decision is highly appreciated by party loyalists and most UNP members throughout the country," said Minister Navin Dissanayake.

"No UNP leader has violated the party constitution without considering the voice of fellowmen who sacrificed their whole lives for the betterment of the party," he said.