(Lanka-e-News -11.Sep.2016, 11.55PM) The 70 th anniversary of the UNP was held at Campbell Park , Borella ,Colombo yesterday (10) attended by a mammoth crowd. At the invitation of UNP leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe , president Maithripala Sirisena who is also the SLFP leader ,and an ex president and former leader of the SLFP Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge attended the celebration as special guests, thereby clearly demonstrating to the world that this is now a country where there is reconciliation. Moreover it gave a new salutary meaning to SL’s political culture .
The president who was the guest speaker said, based on the confidence of the UNP party supporters he became the president while at the 65 th SLFP anniversary , it was confirmed the confidence of the SLFP supporters has been won , and now the confidence of three fourths of the country had been won over. On the lines of what he said at the SLFP 65 th anniversary , the president reiterated , ‘Sri Lankans wake up’ modifying the exhortation ‘Sinhalese wake up ‘ of Anagarika Dharmapala . The president went on to say , he is most delighted that he is invited and given an opportunity to speak at the 70 th anniversary of the UNP , the party which constituted the majority of his mandate he received from the people.
‘The efforts made by Late D.S. Senanayake the founder of the UNP 70 years ago to create reconciliation among all the races , Sinhalese , Tamils and Muslims , was not perpetuated by others. Today , the UNP and SLFP which have understood this , are seeking to implement that , and he is therefore expecting the support of all to make that effort a success ,’ the president asserted.
The P.M. gifted a portrait of Late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike to president Maithripala Sirisena , as well as a portrait of Late Sirimavo Bandaranaike to ex president Chandrika Kumaratunge on the occasion.
The P.M. when delivering his speech before the massive crowd thronging the venue tendered an apology for the wrongs committed by the UNP in the past. Such apologies are rarely made by Sri Lankan politicians or heard. The UNP is committed to build Sri Lanka along with the joint participation of Sinhalese , Tamils, Muslims, Burghers , and Malays based on a Sri Lankan identity . The government formed under the leadership of president Maithripala Sirisena which includes the SLFP and several other parties has created the best opportunity to achieve that goal , the P.M. observed.
Another most important statement made by the P.M. was: the staggering debt burden of Rs. 9000 billion that was created by Rajapakse regime and shouldered by the people will be cleared by the present government by 2020 , so that the people will be relieved of it .
The entire UNP and everyone of us shall unite .The past weaknesses shall be eliminated. We shall move forward with new visions keeping abreast of the new world order. Let us be vibrant to discharge this responsibility. We shall meet all challenges and win and we shall give leadership to build a strong SL where all races can live in peace and harmony through the future generations.
‘Let us create a Democratic SL where the entire population will be able to enjoy the Democratic rights fully . We shall make SL a developed country socially and economically as well so that the next generation can fulfill their personal aspirations . We shall make this our resolution at this 70 th anniversary celebration , the P.M. emphatically said.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who is on a tour of Washington could not attend the anniversary celebration.
UNP General Secretary Kabeer Hashim , and UNP top front liners including Mangala Samaraweera , Ravi Karunanayake , Sajith Premadasa , Malik Samarawickrema , Eran Wickremetunge,Gamini Jayawickrema Perera,John Amaratunge, Sagala Ratnayake ,Akila Viraj Kariyawasam , Gayantha Karunatileke , Sarath Fonseka, Lakshman Kiriella and Swaminathan graced the event attended by massive crowds. Leaders of other parties including Mano Ganeshan , Digabaram, Rauf Hakeem and Douglas Devananda also were present at the UNP 70 th anniversary celebrations. Hema Premadasa and professor Maithri Wickremesinghe the wife of P.M. were also present.
Some important scenes of the UNP 70 th anniversary celebrations are hereunder
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by (2016-09-12 02:02:09)
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