UNP W/C to decide candidate next week - Range Bandara | Daily News

UNP W/C to decide candidate next week - Range Bandara

There is no friction within the United National Party,” insisted UNP MP Palitha Range Bandara at a media briefing at Sirikotha, the party headquarters, yesterday while affirming that the party’s Working Committee will meet next week to decide on the party’s presidential candidate.

Bandara dismissed rumours of rivalry and rifts within the party adding that any member was free to express intention to contest the presidential polls.

“I don’t see an issue in any member expressing his intention to contest. They are free to do so.

 The working committee is likely to meet next week and a decision will be taken then.”

When queried on Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s bid for the presidency, the Bandara listed the virtues and past actions that would make the Speaker a suitable candidate. “When Speaker Karu Jayasuriya took over the Power and Energy ministry, at the time Sri Lanka was experiencing hours of power outages. He vowed to ensure that there would be a continuous supply of electricity within 160 days of accepting the portfolio and, true to his words, he accomplished the feat in 150 days,” he said.

“Karu Jayasuriya is a man who keeps to his words and proves himself through his actions. Even now he has called for the abolishing of the executive presidency.”

Noting there have been doubts cast in the minds of the people by other political parties that the UNP had done nothing in the last few years, Bandara described the development work undertaken by the UNP so far.

He added that an event would be held today (Thursday) under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe where individuals who had been victimised due to their political affiliations would be compensated.

The MP said that 600 such families were already paid compensation and nearly 500 others would receive theirs starting tomorrow.


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