A Co-Deputy leader of the UNP Karu Jayasuriya, who announced his decision to contest for the party leadership yesterday accused that though the UNP preached democracy to outsiders, it was not persistent in the party.
“We preach for democracy. But there is no democracy in our party. We preach on the need for transparency in the party. But there is no transparency in the party. We preach about unity in the party. Instead, there is a devious kind of manipulation to cause disharmony and seek revenge. We complain of authoritarianism in the government but forget that it is present in greater measure in our party,” he said.
He said also accused some of the UNP heavyweights for working for their personnel gains. “This is why the tireless campaign by me and my colleagues who seek reform to ensure democracy, transparency and the creation of a vibrant opposition has failed. We have time and again taken up these issues with Mr. Wickremesinghe but I say with great sadness and pain of mind that all our sincere efforts have failed. We have only been isolated,” he said.
He said he took the decision to run for the party leadership to unite the party.