The call was made by reformist firebrand and Secretary of the Movement for the Protection of the UNP and its Trade Unions, Lal Perera, who said all party reformists were of the same view.
A call went out on Thursday to UNP members to rise against their party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Mangala Samaraweera and members of the Working Committee loyal to the leader before the forthcoming elections to three Provincial Councils.
The call was made by reformist firebrand and Secretary of the Movement for the Protection of the UNP and its Trade Unions, Lal Perera, who said all party reformists were of the same view.
Speaking to the media at a party member’s residence in Rajagiriya, he alleged that UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe had told party candidates contesting the forthcoming elections to North-Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils that the UNP would definitely lose the polls but to try and increase the percentage of votes.
"Can a leader say that he expected to lose at an election?" Perera asked. He alleged that Wickremasinghe had chased away those who showed allegiance to Sajith Premadasa when the people and candidates asked for Premadasa’s presence at their political meetings.
Perera requested the party supporters to stand by the reformists and chase away the ‘dying’ UNP MPs who have one foot in this world and the other in hell.
He alleged that those who supported the UNP leader were nepotistic individuals or those who helped themselves to party funds.
He said that at the current rate, the UNP would never get an opportunity to form a government of its own. "This is the time to rise up against those ill-guided seniors and help form a new generation of young leaders led by Sajith Premadasa.
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