Chief Minister can be a springboard, says UNP Secretary
Tuesday, 1 October 2013 01:18
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Amid calls for MP Sajith Premadasa to contest the forthcoming southern provincial poll as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday that the position can be a springboard to greater things.
Premadasa has rejected the call, claiming UNP supporters wanted him to lead the country and not a provincial Chief Minister.
Attanayake acknowledged that Premadasa had rejected the resolution passed by the UNP’s Matara Working Committee but added that the position was nothing to scoff at.
“Chandrika Kumaratunga’s journey to the presidency started out as Chief Minister of the Western Province; that should be remembered. There is nothing wrong with becoming a Chief Minister. She didn’t hang around demanding this position and that,” the UNP General Secretary charged.
“There are several among us who can use her experience as a model,” Attanayake said.
He said there were many in the party who wish to portray themselves as the future leaders. “The people who make such claims must perform now and show their skills so the entire party will be forced to stand behind them,” Attanayake said. (DB)
