UNP sees importance of having its own Muslim and Tamil leaders as in past

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday said that the UNP would have to follow the policies of its founder and build up leaders which represent Muslim and Tamil communities within the party itself.

Speaking during the meetings he had with party activists in Ampara District, Wijewardene said the UNP should develop its own Muslim and Tamil leaders rather than depending on other minority parties. “We had good Muslim leaders in the past, such as, the late A. C.S Hameed and M.H. Mohamed.  It is time we developed leaders to represent Tamils and Muslims within our party” he said.

“We could not look after the needs of our party members during the time when we were running the government. We formed the government with the SLFP.  The SLFP got all the ministries where there were employment opportunities. They provided jobs to their supporters. Even Rishad Bathiudeen’s party got a ministry where employment opportunities exist. However, those in our camp never got ministries where there were job opportunities. Some say former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe only focused on developing the nation while forgetting party members. We should allow our leader to concentrate on building the nation if we form a government in the future. We can take over the task of looking after the party members without putting that burden on Wickremesinghe” he added.

“We will visit Ampara once a month and will also visit areas such as Trincomalee, Kegalle and Ratnapura in the future and organise the party,” he said.

He also said a common opposition alliance would come into place next year. “It is only such a grand opposition alliance that is able to defeat SLPP,” he added.

UNP Colombo Municipal Council Member Duminda Attygalle, former UNP MPs and Working Committee Members Saman Ratnapriya and Anoma Gamage were also present.