Sajith calls for reforms in UNP:

Unfair to blame party leadership - Jayalath Jayawardane

Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa, who has been elected again from the Hambantota district, said the United National Party (UNP) needs to be reformed to represent the grassroots, including labourers, farmers and fishermen.

“The reforms should begin with where power is centred,” he was quoted as saying to the local correspondent of the BBC.

The UNP secured only 46 seats of the 180 declared so far, while the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 117 seats.

The UNP that won two seats at the 2004 general election in the Hambantota district, the stronghold of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, secured two seats at the April 8 polls under, Premadasa’s leadership. “The main reason for the failure to implement reforms was that power is pretty much centralised in the party so the responsibility lies with the party leader,” said Premadasa, the son of former President R. Premadasa.

Some UNP parliamentarians, however, argue that it is important to maintain the unity in the party by working together.

“This is not the time to create another crisis by pulling the rug under its feet” Gampaha district MP, Jayalath Jayawardane told BBC Sandeshaya.

However, Premadasa said that the leadership should recognise the importance of the reforms for the progress of the party in future elections.

But Jayawardane is of the opinion that it is unfair to blame only the party leadership for all failures.”

I think we should honestly look back whether we all did fulfil our responsibilities,” he said.

Courtesy: BBC