SB controversy settled

The UNP yesterday stressed that all matters pertaining to the controversial statement made by the newly appointed National Organiser S.B. Dissanayake at the UNP's Working Committee meeting recently was settled amicably.

It is reported that S.B Dissanayake, at the Committee meeting had openly criticised UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, saying that he had not given a patient hearing to the dissident UNP group, led by MP Karu Jayasuriya and did not solve several inside matters which led them to cross over to the Government.

At the Committee meeting, some UNP front liners including MPs Vajira Abewardena, Lakshman Seneviratne, Jayalath Jayawardena, Renuka Herath and Johnston Fernando had made several oral statements against S.B Dissanayake for criticising the party leader.

MP Lakshaman Seneviratne had criticised S.B for making harsh statements against former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and asked him not to act in that manner while in the UNP too.

MP Johnston Fernando had asked SB to take the sole responsibility for the recent crossing over by several UNP MPs to the Government.

Meanwhile UNP, Galle District MP Gayantha Karunatillaka told the `Sunday Observer' that former Minister S.B. Dissanayake had accepted the gravity of his embarrassing remarks made against the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. "However, everything has been settled amicably and now we have to focus attention on the party's future development activities including the appointing of area organisers, arranging public meetings and party seminars," Karunatillaka said.

AK