Karu, Sajith likely to be given positions after PC Polls

UNP to pardon all dissidents who apologize for violating party discipline
With most former UNP dissidents re-entering the party fold, Messrs. Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa are likely to be given positions after the conclusion of the upcoming Northern, Central and North Western Provincial Council Elections, senior UNP sources indicated yesterday.



Senior UNP MP and Chief Opposition Whip, John Amaratunga, when asked if there was move to reunite the party after dissident MP’s Range Bandara and Ashoka Abeysinghe patched up their differences with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe recently, said that only those who had apologized for publicly ridiculing the party and its leadership would be pardoned.

Those dissidents who had realized their folly in being misled by an immature and over ambitious group and pledged not to violate party discipline again, have been taken back without having to face any repercussions, Amaratunga observed. Commenting on the differences between Karu Jayasuriya who once contested Ranil Wickremesinghe unsuccessfully for the post of leader with the backing of Sajith Premadasa, he noted that they had met the leader recently and it appeared their differences had been sorted out.

He pointed out that the rank and file, regardless of various differences which existed in any party, should work hard to ensure that the UNP not only emerged victorious at the provincial polls but at national level as well.

Asked, if Jayasuriya and Premadasa would be re-appointed as deputy leaders, he replied that it was a decision for the Working Committee. But the leadership was not averse to giving them positions though he could not say what they would be.

Amaratunga stressed that whoever aspired for titles, had to understand that it could not be obtained by directly or indirectly propagating the divisive and racist policies of the Rajapaksa regime or its allies.

The UNP was a national party and represented all communities and religions, he said. If any of its members wanted to navigate in a different direction, they should realize that they were in the wrong place.