Ranil calls new UNP local council to revamp party

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called newly appointed local council members to help revamp the party while maintaining discipline.

Mr Wickremesinghe was addressing the ceremony where 76 members were sworn in as local councilors replacing Samagi Jana Balawegaya members.

The SJB members were replaced after courts held that it was a violation for them to be elected from the UNP and work for the SJB. Accordingly some of the members resigned while others were replaced.

They were sworn in at an event attended by senior UNP members including party Deputy Leader Ruwan WIjewardene.

Mr Wickremesinghe said that the members should get back to their villages and campaign for issues concerning the public and in the process should forget party differences.

“If the farmers are affected it is not only the UNP farmers have been affected, but all farmers have been affected. Therefore forget party differences”, he said.

He said it was time the traditional politics should end as the people have rejected the concepts. He said accusing each other or just promising to resolve a particular issue does not work as the governments in the past have failed to deliver.

“The UNP is a party which can think fresh. The UNP is a party which can offer solutions to problems”, he said.

He said the educational systems which have collapsed should be saved, the economy of the households should be protected and livelihoods should be revived.

“We cannot be talking of the past, but should offer solutions to the future”.

He said after the COVID-19, a new economy would have to be introduced and a long term national policy needed.

He said in politics new faces should be introduced while having persons well experienced.