Karu decries selective victimisations within UNP

UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday issued a statement urging for an end to selective victimisations of persons within the party and focus on harnessing all views towards strength and victory.

The following is full statement:

“Election of the Office Bearers of the United National Party is over.  There is criticism about the manner it was conducted.  Let that be as it is, as a political party, especially being the largest individual political party and the largest party in the opposition, we are obliged to rally the masses against the anti democratic acts of the present regime and to play the role of an alternate government.

“We have to ask ourselves whether we are taking steps to achieve this goal.  When we look at the way things are happening, after the party elections, we can hardly say that we are moving towards this direction.  Action is being taken to remand the key figures of the group who demanded for reforms in the party and the party activists who worked tirelessly to revive and change the party machinery, with a view to take it along the path of victory.  Also, action is being taken to initiate disciplinary action against Dayasiri Jayasekera, who loves his party genuinely and won the respect and regard of the large section of society and the party members, actively engaged in a campaign against the present regime.

“The UNP has the strength of a massive tusker.  We as a party which won the independence for the country and revolutionised the economy for the welfare of the people, are capable of implementing a lot for the benefit of the masses.   The present regime has provided so many issues for us to establish ourselves as an alternate government. “Today, the mission of the UNP is to provide the leadership to the opposition and to mobilise the opposition as a political force against the present regime, after identifying the common issues we all can agree on.

“What is happening now is the opposite.  Action is being taken to expel from the party individuals of the calibre of Dayasiri Jayasekera who is a real strength to the party and who can be utilised as a powerful weapon against the present regime. “When I decided to contest for the leadership I expected to unite all sections of the party and commence our march towards victory, in response to the demand of the majority during the past 16 years to unite all sections and to take the party along the path of victory.  The main issue among the criticism about the manner the election was conducted, is that it was not conducted in a level field. Dayasiri Jayasekera too pointed this out as a main issue in his review of the election.

“I firmly believe that we should always respect the counter views rather than trample it down.  As I announced publicly I will never seek revenge from anybody, our only goal is to form a government of the UNP uniting all sections.  

“I wish to emphasise that we must stop selective victimisations of persons and bring all sections together rather than suppressing different opinions, we must strive to formulate common views where all can agree and lead our party towards victory.”