Party old guard says: UNP must support common candidate
By Niranjala Ariyawansha-
October 3, 2014
Former UNP Parliamentarians stated yesterday, that the UNP needed to support the common candidate at the next presidential election, in order to correct the historic mistake the party is guilty of; establishing the executive presidency.
They further stated the opposition parties must unite in order to stand up to the Rajapaksa regime, which would unleash further violence at the upcoming presidential election.
They made these comments during a media briefing on the abolition of the executive presidency, held by the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) at the Naga Viharaya in Kotte.
"We are responsible for voting in favour of the executive presidency. However, it has turned out to be a wrong decision. Therefore, at the next presidential election, Ranil Wiickremesinghe from the UNP cannot defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa. Likewise, a common candidate cannot achieve victory without the support of the UNP.
As a result, the UNP must make a decision to fully back the common candidate at the upcoming presidential election" former General Secretary of the UNP, Daham Wimalasena asserted.
Deputy Defence Minister during the Jayewardene Government, Anura Bastian, said, this would be the last and most opportune time in history to abolish the executive presidency.
Former parliamentarians of the
J. R. Jayewardene government, Upali Piyasoma, M. G. Premaratne, Madhurapala Ediriweera and Mahen Gunasekara were among the former deputy ministers and district ministers who were present at the meeting.
Convener of the NMSJ and Chief Incumbent of the Kotte Naga Viharaya, Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera said, they would announce the name of the common candidate who would defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa within the next two weeks.
By Niranjala Ariyawansha-
October 3, 2014
Former UNP Parliamentarians stated yesterday, that the UNP needed to support the common candidate at the next presidential election, in order to correct the historic mistake the party is guilty of; establishing the executive presidency.
They further stated the opposition parties must unite in order to stand up to the Rajapaksa regime, which would unleash further violence at the upcoming presidential election.
They made these comments during a media briefing on the abolition of the executive presidency, held by the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) at the Naga Viharaya in Kotte.
"We are responsible for voting in favour of the executive presidency. However, it has turned out to be a wrong decision. Therefore, at the next presidential election, Ranil Wiickremesinghe from the UNP cannot defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa. Likewise, a common candidate cannot achieve victory without the support of the UNP.
As a result, the UNP must make a decision to fully back the common candidate at the upcoming presidential election" former General Secretary of the UNP, Daham Wimalasena asserted.
Deputy Defence Minister during the Jayewardene Government, Anura Bastian, said, this would be the last and most opportune time in history to abolish the executive presidency.
Former parliamentarians of the
J. R. Jayewardene government, Upali Piyasoma, M. G. Premaratne, Madhurapala Ediriweera and Mahen Gunasekara were among the former deputy ministers and district ministers who were present at the meeting.
Convener of the NMSJ and Chief Incumbent of the Kotte Naga Viharaya, Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera said, they would announce the name of the common candidate who would defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa within the next two weeks.
