Karu ready to lead UNP

Former Speaker and UNP stalwart Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said he was ready to lead the UNP. In a statement issued to media, Jayasuriya said that he had decided to inform the incumbent UNP leadership and seniors of his willingness to consider a large number of requests from various parties for him to accept the UNP leadership for the sake of the party and the country.

“I am ready to render all my service and take up the responsibilities of the party for the benefit of the motherland,” Jayasuriya said.

“The UNP founded by DS Senanayake led a successful struggle to achieve the country’s independence. The UNP has the expertise, talent and international recognition needed to face the challenges of the 21st century.

“However the present plight of the party is a cause of frustration for members and the public who seek national progress. Many patriotic forces approached me following the defeat the UNP suffered at the last general election and requested me to accept the party leadership, to steer away the UNP from its current crisis and make it a formidable force once again. Among those who approached me were the members of all religions including the Maha Sangha, former Ministers and MPs of the UNP, intellectuals and well-wishers of the party, leaders of other parties that worked with the UNP in the recent past, representatives of people at provincial council and local government bodies, leaders of the trade unions supporting the UNP and members of civil organizations working for the democratic values.

“All those who met me pointed out that we had arrived at a critical point which would decide whether the party would go down or regain its former self. I too believe that if we manage to identify the people’s aspirations and heed their concerns then we may be able to introduce reforms and transform the party into a formidable force.

“I obtained UNP membership in 1994, when Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted the party leadership. Since then I have rendered service as the party Chairman, Deputy Leader and as President of the party Leadership Council and helped improve the UNP’s electoral performance at the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election.

“It is no secret that I worked to make the 17th Amendment to the Constitution a reality and introduce the Right to Information to uphold democratic values in our country. I dedicated myself to introducing party reforms since 1995.”