Karu to contest for UNP leadership
In a special statement issued today UNP Co-deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya confirmed that he would contest for the party leadership at the next Working Committee elections.
Due to the vast number of invitations I have received, to contest for party leadership, I was compelled to except the invitation this time, he said.
“I am aware that there will be many obstacles to face. However, I assure that I will face them successfully and contest for party leadership” the Gampaha District MP says in the release.
Mr. Jayasuriya further states that his main objective, behind contesting for the position, “is to unite and save the party”.
More than posts and ranks I love the party and this is the promise I gave to those who invited me to contest for the leadership, he said today issuing a special statement.
Karu Jayasuriya has continuously been pressed by UNP reformists and former MPs to take up the party leadership with Co-deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa even promising to bring in majority support in order to ensure the appointment.
Following the repeated calls, Karu in July announced that he is willing to accept any challenge given to him “if it is the will of the majority of party members and the general public”.
Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe however in a statement issued soon afterwards said that he has assigned Karu Jayasuriya to unite the party “as it is the majority view of the party”.
Karu Jayasuriya, Minister of Power and Energy during the UNP government, crossed over to the UPFA government following the 2005 election and was made Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs by President Rajapakse in the 2007 cabinet reshuffle.
He subsequently resigned from his portfolio on 9 December, 2008 and rejoined the United National Party as the Deputy Leader.
Courtesy: Ada Derana
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My Way by Frank Sinatra
And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and ev’ry highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I’ve had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that;
And may I say – not in a shy way,
“No, oh no not me,
I did it my way”.
The UNP is facing high risk of being relegated to the dumps in SL Politics similar to LSSP, MEP, CP etc.
Karu Jayasuriya has consistently failed to prove his mettle. So is the current wimpy leader.
The only way to revive the UNP is the bring forth untested young blood to attract the common voter back to its fold.
Buddhika Pathirana will be a good choice.
JS,
You are very correct. UNP is only facing the ignomity
of being thrown into the limbo of the forgotten politics,
but it has the power to rise phoenix like back into fame
with its solid but now floating voter bank.Karu J will not be a good successor. His spine is not straight but
wavering.Young blood should take over .Buddhika is a bit
immature but with elections of any nature clearly far
away,he can fit in.He is educated and has a good party
and family voter base.
AUJ,
The so called young blood policy will not work out for UNP. Think wisely
AUJ—MAD