"UNP has failed to provide what the people requested" - UNP MP Chandima Gamage

COLOMBO (News 1st):- UNP MP Chandima Gamage speaking at a media briefing held in Dambulla commented on the party leadership. He states that a political party that fails to deliver the people's mandate will fail and that they have failed to provide what the people have requested as the leader, which is Sajith Premadasa. Gamage stresses that Sajith Premadasa must be given the position of party leader.

"The other day, MPs and the working committee of the UNP were summoned to Sirikotha upon the instructions of the party leader, There are about 75 MPs altogether, and 65 MPs were present on that day. When they were questioned as to whether a vote should take place to elect the leader, nearly 90 percent said 'yes'. 52 MPs came forward and said Sajith Premadasa should be appointed as the party leader" - he said.

He claims that the UNP MPs are now prepared for anything and that a few of them have even decided to leave the party if the current leadership decides to go with alternatives. He adds that they have already commenced the election campaign towards the victory of Sajith Premadasa. Co-convenor of the National Peoples Council, Chameera Perera also commenting on the issue surrounding the UNP party leadership said;

"He has served as the leader for almost 25 years and has been defeated nearly 24 times. Can a candidate win an election under the leadership of such an individual? The current economic crisis is aggravating and the present government does not have any solutions" - he said.

Chameera Perera also speaking on the situation of the present government says;

"The present government is trying to solve the country's economic problems by selling valuable property to multinational organizations. Therefore, what we need is people-centered, democratic, and transformational political leadership. Only Sajith Premadasa can deliver this. We urge the other leaders to stop following Ranil Wickremesinghe and to immediately form a broader alliance."

Also speaking about the controversy surrounding the UNP party leadership was State Minister of Energy, Rohitha Abeygunawardene.

"We can see there is no leader for the UNP because it has already been proved that Ranil Wickremesinghe is a weak leader who has no plan for the future of the party. So people living in rural areas also agree that there is no use of him. There is no use of Karu Jayasuriya as well. He is the type of person who swaps from one side to another. So who is going to be the next leader of the UNP? The UNP has now become stranded. We can see a big conflict being formed at Sirikotha, the conflict to decide between Sajith or Ranil. We don' know when this will end. It's quite evident that its better if Sirikotha becomes a hospital at this point. Because those inside the Sirikotha are ill people. Whenever a court case arises, all UNP MPs fall sick." -  he says.