UNP calls for MoU with govt. to overcome US resolution

 The UNP said yesterday that it was ready to even enter into an agreement, with the Rajapaksa government, with a view to helping it end the repeated humiliation and insults that Sri Lanka was being subjected to on the international stage.UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the media in Colombo, said that their criticism of the ruling party was based purely in the interest of the country, but had been rejected time and again on the basis of being unpatriotic.

People taxed without parliamentary approval - UNP

The UNP charged that the government was taxing the people without obtaining parliamentary approval.Levies could not be increased as and when the authorities felt like it. It was imperative that the due process of law was adhered to, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference in Colombo on Tuesday.

Ranil says Govt. has signed too many HR treaties

Even as Sri Lanka comes under heavy international scrutiny about its human rights record in Geneva this month, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday faulted the incumbent regime for signing certain international conventions and protocols that obliged the country to abide by international humanitarian law.Wickremesinghe who was addressing party activists at the UNP Headquarters Sirikotha yesterday said that the Government had supported a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2009 that accepted the Council’s power to investigate human rights violations in UN Member states.

Fleecing the people: Karu

The Government and its ‘friends’ and racketeers are looting public money, UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya has charged. Jayasuriya, addressing a media briefing last week, claimed that the Government had paid US$ 180 million to a foreign company to construct a road network in the north.“That company has handed the project over to a local company for US$ 80 million. What happened to the USD 100 million?” Jayasuriya asked,

India very unhappy with Rajapaksa govt., says UNP

Even though President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed that his government’s relations with India couldn’t be better, the truth was that New Delhi was very unhappy with his government’s refusal to resolve the decades old ethnic issue, the UNP said yesterday. General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake addressing a news conference in Colombo,

Pointless for us to shout back at the HR Council, says Ranil

Speaking at a media briefing held on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe commented on the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva.'The United National Party did not go to Geneva. Following the 2009 proposal and the pledge given to the team behind the Darusman Report, the government has accepted that violations of human rights and international human rights law in this country can be looked into.

Suffering a loss of 1.5 billion because there is no GSP plus - Lakshman Kiriella

The United National Party convened a media briefing in Colombo. Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella addressed the media."Less than one percent of our exports go to China. The government says that they will be uncovering new markets, however they haven't been able to do this.
The government does not export, it is the private sector that exports. The private sector has contacts with the western countries. For the first time in our history the IMF rejects our loan application.

Govt Must Make U-Turn And Start Re-Democratization – Mangala Samaraweera

Former Foreign Minister and UNP Parliamentarian, Mangala Samaraweera, said the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government’s Madamulana doctrine on foreign policy, acting without maturity or responsibility and the attitude of shooting the messenger, has resulted in the country facing the current crises before the international community.

Sri Lanka Facing International Isolation may Soon be the “New”Myanmar of Asia -Mangala

Former Foreign Minister and UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera says the impeachment fiasco will give more credence to the war crimes allegations. “The way Police and the Army behaved giving cover and protection to the goon squads who went on the rampage was shocking,” he said, adding that the country would have to face far reaching implications following the impeachment on the Chief Justice.

Special Media Release On the UN Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva Issued by General Secretary of the UNP

If at the 22nd sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council a situation which is prejudicial to Sri Lanka arises, the entire responsibility should be borne by the government led by the President, especially Ministers Prof. G.L.Peiris and Mahinda Samarasinghe who participated at last year's UN General Assembly and the UNHRC sessions promising the international community the sun, moon and stars.According to reportsat the current Geneva sessions,

RADICAL STATEMENT ENDORSED BY THE WORKING COMMITTEE AT THE MEETING HELD ON 30 OCTOBER 2012 AT “SIRIKOTHA

The UNP believes that every person deserves a chance and the government needs to help everyone to secure that chance.  The Rajapaksa economy based on drug money, hot money and black money has instead deprived the people of that opportunity to get ahead in life.  Power and wealth are today concentrated in the hands of 1% of the country.  This has been achieved through Government control, both direct and indirect, of the economy.  An economy based on the primacy of markets where those who manipulate the market also control the capital.

UNP led Vipakshaye Virodhaya is the sole opposition....

Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe together with the leaders and representatives of United Socialist Alliance, Maubima Janatha Party, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Nava Sihala Ururmaya, Nava Sama Samaja Party, Tamil Muslim Janatha Party, Democratic People’s Front and Tamil National Alliance hold hands heralding the launch of ‘Vipakshaye Virodhaya’

UNP promises to lead right!

The UNP’s Working Committee yesterday approved what it described as a ‘radical program’ to build if elected a truly equitable and democratic Sri Lanka by investing in people, values, environment, social welfare, infrastructure, enterprises, and jobs. “This is a radical program” for the future generation and the country, the UNP said, following the Working Committee (WC) meeting.