UNP to meet to restructure for better future

• Describes election result as “greatest setback in history” 
• UNP ready to accept responsibility for failures and shortcomings 
• Says reorganising party to face future with vigour

Despite describing this week’s Parliamentary Polls result as the “greatest setback in history,” the United National Party (UNP) nonetheless said its response would be to re-organise and restructure the party and assured it would move ahead with “determination and vigour”. 

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam releasing a short statement yesterday noted that they would accept the people’s searing verdict, adding that the party was prepared to accept responsibility for “failures and shortcomings” that pushed it to the worst election result since independence. 

“The UNP would like to appeal to its supporters and the general public to accept the outcome of the election peacefully. The party will be re-organised and restructured to face the challenges and we will be moving forward with determination and vigour as has been done on previous occasions,” the statement said. 

Kariyawasam observed this election was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic which partly contributed to an economic downturn. He pointed out that the UNP was the only party which presented a strategy to control COVID-19 and to resuscitate and strengthen the “home economy”.

“However, the people have given a massive mandate to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the UNP has encountered the greatest setback in its history despite many achievements which brought long-lasting benefits to the country and the people.” 

Kariyawasam warned that the Government would have to tread carefully to manage the political movement it had created so that it did not lead to instability. 

“As a party we faced many challenges, internally as well as externally. The UNP is prepared to accept the responsibility for failures and shortcomings, both the result of its own actions and the actions of others. It is evident that in this election the political parties based on policies have been overtaken by political movements. This could lead to an unstable political situation in the years to come,” the statement added. 

The United National Party (UNP) conveyed its appreciation to the National Elections Commission for conducting the 2020 Parliamentary Elections successfully.

“It is the 19th Amendment brought by our Government that ensured this election was conducted in a free and peaceful manner. The UNP also wishes to take this opportunity to thank all public officers, tri-forces and the Police who got involved in conducting a free and fair election.”