UNP, JVP grassroots members at loggerheads

by our political correspondent

Minister Alahapperuma	S. B. Dissanayake	Dr. Kamal Karunadasa

UNP provincial leaders have protested to their party high command that they cannot obey the orders given by JVP cadres who had killed their sons, daughters and relatives during the 1987-1989 terror campaign.“We cannot yield to the pressure exerted by grassroots level JVP supporters operating under the Somawansa - Tilvin - Anura trio,” they have reiterated.

A large number of UNPers and their loyalists had met SLFP and DUNF leaders in Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, Lankapura, Matara, Deniyaya, Akurassa, Wilpita, Hakmana, Kegalle and Kurunegala during the last few days and offered their support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said ex-National Organiser UNP, S. B. Dissanayake.Dissanayake had anticipated this development and conveyed this to the UNP leadership well in advance when the JVP was approaching the UNP to discuss sponsoring the Common Presidential Candidate.

“UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is dreaming about the post of Executive Premiership. In a recent TV interview, Fonseka said he would run the country with a Cabinet of members, but not give up some Executive Presidential powers. He clearly said he had not given any undertaking that he would offer the Executive Premiership to Ranil Wickremesinghe or to anyone else,” Dissanayaka said.

Jana Vimukthi Solidarity Front leader and Secretary General, Dr. Kamal Karunadasa, who addressed presidential rallies at Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Galle and Matara, said most grassroots level JVP cadres are against their party leadership instructing them to work with UNP provincial leaders.

The actual situation in villages is that the UNP and JVP membership are at loggerheads due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the social gap that exists between them has been the prime cause of the differences between them, he said.

Commenting on this situation, Transport Minister and SLFP Treasurer, Dullas Alahapperuma said supporters of the UNP and JVP at grassroots level are disgusted of this union and are flocking around President Mahinda Rajapaksa.