Underhand UNP campaign to defeat Ranil

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said that an underhand campaign is being carried out by certain groups in the United National Party to shame and defeat Ranil Wickremasinghe through the current local government elections.

Citing a poster that had been issued by an Independent Group consisting of UNPers contesting the Matara Municipal Council Elections under the symbol of the “spectacle”, he said the poster carries the photographs of all past U.N.P. leaders and a photograph of Sajith Premadasa with the group.  He said Sajith Premadasa up to now neither dissociate with the group nor protest about using his photographs by them.

 
He said that this is a fine example to confirm the campaign being carried out by the UNPers itself to defeat the UNP.  Mr. Yapa was speaking at the Cabinet Decision briefing Media Conference held at the Information Department today.  He said that the same campaign is being carried out in the Colombo Municipal Council election as well.  (niz)