Sajith claims he suffered much more than Dayasiri, but won’t quit

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa helps an old mother wearing a spectacle during an eye-clinic held at Tissamaharama electorate on Saturday (27),Close on the heels of Kurunegala District UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera’s cross over to the SLFP, UNP MP Sajith Premadasa has launched a scathing attack on the party’s leadership.



Addressing a public gathering in the Tissamaharama electorate on Saturday (27), Premadasa alleged that the party leadership had unfairly treated him on many occasions. Stressing that he did not approve of Jayasekera’s move, the Hambantota District MP said that all his efforts to remedy the situation had been in vain.

The former UNP Deputy Leader pointed out that Jayasekera had received the highest number of preferential vote in the Kurunegala District at the last parliamentary polls and was one of those who had worked tireless for the party. Jayasekera could have played a pivotal role in reviving the party, MP Premadasa said without defecting.

Premadasa said that in spite of suffering much more than his colleague, Jayasekera, he had remained with the party. "I have been treated unjustly. Perhaps, no one else has suffered like me. In spite of being elected as the Deputy Leader of the party from the majority vote of the decision making Working Committee, I was deprived of that post. Restrictions were also imposed on various ongoing welfare projects launched by me. I have also been removed from the list of speakers selected to address propaganda meetings in support of those contesting the forthcoming PC polls. I was deprived of an opportunity to join nomination boards."

Premadasa emphasised that such actions wouldn’t cause major damage to his political career. UNP supporters as well as ordinary people had realised that the impact of such action was negligible, therefore he was ready to face the challenges.

Declaring that his campaign was on track in spite of various obstacles, Premadasa vowed to continue his struggle without resorting to a mudslinging campaign.

Premadasa said that the crisis triggered by Jayasekera’s crossover had demoralised UNP supporters ahead of the forthcoming PC polls. He said many party supporters had inquired from him what was going on in the party. Premadasa said he did not consider defection a solution to any of the problems the party was faced with.