Mahinda enjoys more power than Obama - Ranil

 Since President Mahinda Rajapaksa enjoyed more powers than even US President Barack Obama, a new constitution should ensure that the executive presidency is replaced by a Head of State, who would not be able to abuse his authority, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday.

UNP vows to forge Sri Lankan identity

The United National Party (UNP) yesterday vowed to build a Sri Lankan identity by way of its draft constitution which would help unite all communities in Sri Lanka.UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference supreme power wielded by the executive presidency had stunted the Sri Lankan identity.

Jayalath is a true social worker – Tissa Attanayake

The General Secretary of United National Party (UNP) Tissa Attanayake stated that the deceased MP. Dr Jayalath Jayawardena is a true social workers and a great humanitarian.Commenting on the memorable service done by the former UNP parliamentarian, he stated that Dr Jayalath Jayawadena has done a great service as a doctor and made an immense

System of governance: UNP has given the public three options– Ranil

The UNP’s proposed new constitution was unique, since it gave the people three options of political governance to choose from, Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.He told the media that while his party was committed to the abolition of the executive presidency, the powers of which would be divided among the Head of State, Prime Minister and the Speaker’s Council, it had proposed three systems of government.

UNP ready to discuss its draft manifesto with all, including UPFA

Chairman of the Research and Policy Unit of the UNP, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, MP, yesterday said that the party would discuss its new manifesto with all political parties, including the ruling SLFP as well as its UPFA constituents.Having released the manifesto at the parliamentary complex on Wednesday, the UNP was readying for meetings with political parties and civil society organizations, Rajapakshe said.

DR.JAYALATH JAYAWARDENA PASSES AWAY

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena has passed away at a hospital in Singapore early this morning, a Family member and UNP sources told Ada Derana. He has passed away following a surgery at a private hospital in Singapore, Hospital sources said.

UNP draft proposal for a new constitution

The United National Party (UNP), while calling for the enactment of a new Constitution, said yesterday that it was committed to a unitary state, which would genuinely devolve power to the provinces without usurping its effectiveness.Opposition and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, releasing his party’s manifesto at the parliamentary complex, said that there was an urgent need to adopt a new Constitution

HALTING SAPUGASKANDA OPERATIONS WAS SYSTEMATIC EFFORT - TISSA

Halting operations at the Sapugaskanda Refinery was a result of a systematic project, General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake stated. Speaking at a press conference held today (May 28) in Colombo, Attanayake said that the motive behind this operation was to sell the refining operations to the Arab company called Aramco. He demanded that the government reveal its plans to the rest of the country. Attanayake pointed out that by halting operations the government has opened the door for irregular deals.