UNP admits infighting contributed to loss

By Uditha Jayasinghe

The UNP yesterday admitted that infighting among its ranks contributed to the recent defeat at the Local Government elections but insisted that the government had not made a significant win as they claimed.

Making rather belated explanations to the media yesterday, UNP Secretary General Tissa Attanayake and UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera acknowledged that the deepening rift between party ranks was partially responsible for the defeat that they suffered. However they were quick to point out that blatant election violations and the use of armed forces in the run up to the polls also had a deep impact.

“It is clear that the people are disgusted with this government and its election process to the point that they don’t see a point in voting. I know that the grassroot level UNP vote is still with us. But they prefer to refrain from voting because they know that their vote does not have a chance to stand out,” Samaraweera said.

Attanayake at the start of the press conference mentioned several instances when armed forces allegedly suppressed campaigning of opposition parties and even sent masked men to take vote cards from voters. Abuse of State resources, usage of government development plans to promote UPFA candidates and dispensing aid to gain votes were all abundantly displayed during this election according to him.

“Despite UPFA using this State juggernaut they were not able to gain as massive a victory as they expected. If you add the results of the previous Local Government elections with what was held last Saturday we can see that UPFA gained only 56.82% of the vote, UNP garnered 32%, JVP 2.94% and others 9%. This shows that the UNP is not as far behind as the government says that it is.”

In areas such as Horana only 15% of voters turned out, the General Secretary said. Samaraweera speaking in his turn remarked that as a person who had been in the UNP only for a year he has noted the affect infighting has had on the party and called for everyone to unite against the Rajapaksa government.

“Before we point the finger at anyone else we must first examine what we have done and question ourselves as to whether it was enough. There have been many instances in the run up to the elections when the candidates have put what should have been internal discussions before the media, they have held press conferences and undermined the party. These actions must stop. We must look to strengthening the party and ask ourselves if our youth, women and village networks are adequately resourced. We must reorganise the party and march forward against this corrupt government.”

Samaraweera also insisted that the government was deliberately breaking up the elections so that they could campaign in each region actively using State resources and that if it was held on the same day as customary the results would be different. The non-appointment of independent police, elections and public service commissions were also criticised by him. The results and future measures of the party would be decided on at the next Steering Committee meeting scheduled for 17 August.