by
Shamindra Ferdinando
UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP, has said that he still dreamt of a president from the UNP.
pic courtesy of: facebook.com/sajithpremadasa
Reminiscing of his father, Ranasinghe Premadasa’s commitment to securing a commanding five-sixth majority in Parliament for the then JRJ’s government, MP Premadasa said that the party always dreamt of electing a UNPer as the president. “Even today our dream is the same,” Premadasa said, adding that it was his personal opinion.
The Deputy Leader was addressing Kurunegala District UNP Bala Mandalaya on Sunday (Nov 23).
Commenting on UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe giving up his candidature at the presidential election scheduled for January 8, 2015 to accommodate SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate, MP Premadasa stressed that decision had been unanimously endorsed by the Working Committee.
Premadasa said he shouldn’t be faulted for speaking of his aspiration to elect a president from the UNP.
Since the LTTE assassinated UNP presidential poll candidate Gamini Dissanayake on the night of Oct 23, 1994, the UNP had failed to achieve success at presidential polls in 1999, 2005 and 2010. D.B. Wijetunga was the last UNPer to hold office as Ranasinghe Premadasa’s successor. The LTTE assassinated Premadasa on May Day 1993.
The UNP Deputy Leader recalled his assurance to the UNP’s National Convention in 2012 to ensure Wickremesinghe’s victory at the next presidential election. Having assured his commitment, Premadasa declared his desire to come forwards as the UNP candidate in case Wickremesinghe didn’t want to take up the challenge.
MP Premadasa said that though the UNP had not heeded his offer he would throw his weight behind the unanimously backed common candidate project aimed at forming a UNP government in the near future.
In accordance with an agreement between the SLFP rebel group led by twice President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena and the UNP, Wickremesinghe is to be appointed the executive Prime Minister.
Addressing UNPers at Galigamuwa over the last weekend, Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that a UNP administration could be installed as early as next April.
Deputy Leader Premadasa told the Kurunegala gathering that only a UNP government could provide the much needed relief required by UNPers struggling to make ends meet.
Premadasa said that difficulties experienced by them couldn’t be address unless they formed a government in accordance with the ongoing project to help Maithripala Sirisena secured presidency.
“Our mission is to pave the way for the appointment of UNP National leader Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister. We have to set aside personal agendas and give up perks and privileges. The need is to pursue a UNP agenda and take tangible measures to achieve aspirations of the people.”
Lambasting President Rajapaksa and the policies of his government, MP Premadasa alleged that the Rajapaksas were only interested in furthering their family interests. The President was busy building his family empire whereas the vast majority of people were living in poverty.
Premadasa alleged that people had been deprived of even their basic needs, though massive sums of funds were being squandered on mega image-building projects.
Deputy Leader Premadasa said that Maithripala Sirisena had switched his allegiance to the UNP as he, too, had realized that only the UNP could provide relief to the suffering masses. The MP said that Maithripala Sirisena’s move had strengthened the Opposition movement.
Thanking Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinghe, M.K.D.S. Gunawardena, Duminda Dissanayake and Wasantha Senanayake for joining the Opposition movement, MP Premadasa said that many more ministers and MP s would desert the government in the coming days.
Premadasa dismissed what he called UPFA propaganda that he had been disgruntled due to latest developments and was even contemplating switching allegiance to the government. Reiterating his commitment to bringing an end to the Rajapaksa government, Premadasa accused the government of unleashing violence.
The Hambantota District MP cited recent attacks on a former Pradeshiya Sabha member in the Beruwela electorate and UNPers in the Mawathagama electorate as evidence. Premadasa claimed that those who had been responsible for the Mawathagama incident had been formerly with the UNP and also worked with the LTTE.
Courtesy: The Island