Mass exodus of UNPers in Balangoda

Vijitha Nakkawita

Over 1,000 UNP grassroot level leaders and members from the Sabaragamuwa Province joined the SLFP at Balangoda yesterday. This is in appreciation of the development activities in the rural sector implemented by the Government, Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said.

The UNP cadres and area leaders led by Opposition Leader Balangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Vijaya Kumara met Minister Seneviratne in Balangoda and joined the SLFP by obtaining party membership.

Among those who resigned from the UNP to join the SLFP were some activists in rural leaders who had supported the UNP for over three decades, he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa was implementing a massive national development program but the UNP had not recognized the needs of the rural sector.

The UNP did not implement such mega development projects and it would be useless to remain with the UNP any longer, Pradeshiya Sabha Opposition Leader Vijaya Kumara told the minister when he joined the SLFP.

Seneviratne said the UNP had ignored the rural folk of the Ratnapura district and brought an actor from Colombo to head the Provincial Council candidates of the province.

“But the UPFA under the leadership of President Rajapaksa had not only served the people of the district, implemented a large number of infrastructure development and provided electricity to the Balangoda area. People are seeing the physical progress of the rural and national development programs and they have rejected the UNP, he said.

More UNP supporters and activists will join the SLFP in the near future in this district, he said.