Sirikotha meeting targets MS, AKD

UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale has alleged that talks between the SJB and the UNP could have achieved a consensus if not for the selfish attitude of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa.

The veteran UNPer accused the former UNP Deputy Leader of being the primary obstacle to the rapprochement of the divided party.

Addressing those contesting Colombo and Kalutara districts under the ‘elephant’ symbol at the May 06 Local Government polls at Sirikotha, former parliamentarian Atukorale said that Premadasa spurned UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s repeated offers to bring the two parties together.

Having switched allegiance to Premadasa following the breakup of the party in the wake of their defeat at the 2019 presidential election. Atukorale entered parliament on the SJB ticket at the parliamentary elections conducted in August 2020.

Regretting her decision to leave the UNP at that time, the former minister disclosed that she got in touch with Wickremesinghe just a month after the parliamentary election and since then sought to bring the warring parties together.

Alleging that Premadasa had never been genuine in talks with the UNP and throughout the period undermined Wickremesinghe, the turncoat claimed that the SJB parliamentary group received instructions to work against the UNP leader when the parliament elected him the President in July 2022 in the wake of Aragalaya.

Instead of voting against Wickremesinghe in parliament we abstained, she said, while finding fault with Premadasa for sabotaging bid at least to field a joint team at the Colombo Municipal Council.

Atukorale alleged that Premadasa’s strategy has been influenced by his thinking that he could win the next presidential election by bringing the two parties together in time for that national election.

The one-time justice minister explained the circumstances UNP and SJB delegations held talks at her residence and named UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Kabir Hashim as some of those involved in the negotiations.

Atukorale called for consensus between the parties and among supporters at the expense of Premadasa who she alleged was insensitive towards public feeling. She appealed to the candidates and supporters to ensure that the party received much needed boost at the forthcoming Local Government polls thereby create an environment conducive for the party to stage a comeback.

Commenting on UNP led victories at 2001 and 2020 parliamentary election as well as 2015 presidential election, the ex-lawmaker flayed Maithripala Sirisena. Having won the presidency with the UNP’s backing, Sirisena got together with the SLFP to undermine the UNP.

Atukorale disclosed that she sought clarification from Wickremesinghe regarding their strategy. “I wasn’t sure what to do at 2015 presidential election. So I asked Wickremesinghe whether we should really ensure Sirisena’s victory. I was told to back Sirisena’s campaign.”

Atukorala explained the difficulties encountered in working in a cabinet represented by seven political parties and the debilitating setback suffered at the 2018 Local Government polls.

The former minister compared the emergence of the UNP as the most powerful party under JRJ’s indefatigable leadership and how the party deteriorated since 1994 and the current status.

Atukorale ridiculed Premadasa’s offering support to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the crisis created by US declaration of staggering 54% tariff on Sri Lankan goods.

Thalatha
Atukorale

The former minister said that the UNP didn’t mind if Premadasa’s support could help the country though the JVP now heading the NPP killed hundreds of party supporters and many senior officials of the party during their second abortive insurgency.

She alleged that Premadasa extended support to a murderous group.

UNP National Organiser Sagala Rathnayake told the gathering that the NPP couldn’t continue by propagating lies. Alleging that the NPP campaigns for presidential and parliamentary polls had been entirely built on lies, former minister Rathnayaka said that the government was silent on its much touted project to force former President Mahinda Rajapaksa out of his official residence. The former president remained at the official residence, he said.

Subsequent to that failed project, the NPP exploited Al Jazeera interview with Wickremesinghe to attack the UNP over Batalanda detention camp and that effort reminded the people of the murderous violence unleashed by the JVP in the 80s.

Rathnayaka also flayed the NPP over various claims made in respect of 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The former minister declared that there was no basis for government claims that the P CoI (Presidential Commission of Inquiry) report on Easter Sunday had been sent to the CID last week. The UNPer said that it had been given to the Attorney General and Catholic Bishops Conference et al some time back.

The former lawmaker urged President Dissanayake to address real issues without wasting time on useless propaganda projects that wouldn’t make any difference to the people.

Commenting on the ongoing Local Government polls campaign, the ex-lawmaker said that the UNP was making significant progress and anticipated good results.

By Shamindra Ferdinando