UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday set the stage for another controversy asking the party leadership to stop the party reforms.  

Addressing the meeting which was organized by the Kotte UNP Bala Mandala to felicitate Provincial Council Member Shiral Lakthilaka last evening Mr. Karunanayake said there was no need for selecting suitable persons through a ballot but called for selecting them on the seniority basis.

“Put the party reforms aside,” he told reforms committee member UNP MP Kabir Hashim who was also present at the meeting.He also called for the setting up of council of leaders to take care of the party.

Mr. Karunanayake called on the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe not to provide milk to weeping infants.

“You show that you love some people but you really don’t love them at all,” he told Mr. Wickremesinghe who was on stage at that moment.

He said it was time for all party members to get together and build up the party without creating divisions, he said.

Mr. Hashim who spoke after him said many including the media ask him as to when the party reforms would be over and went on to say that reforms would not be done according to wishes of any one but wishes of the party.

He said the reforms might end in a week’s time or would be completed in a month, indicating that it was not possible to give a time frame.

UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera who praised Mr. Lakthileka said he was people who don’t under cut those who are able. He said if able people were allowed to come out, the party would see a fine set of leaders.

Mr. Jayasekekara stressed the need for gearing up the party to take on the government, which was shaken by the silent dissent of some Ministers who had not port folios which are not attractive at all.  

Mr. Wickremesinghe who avoided the topic of party reforms said the party would be victorious if attractive candidates were fielded.

“Even those who vote for other parties would vote for our party, if attractive candidates were fielded.

Focusing on IFFA he charged that government was spending Rs 7 million just for the grand finale by neglecting the poor especially those who were affected by recent floods. He also slammed the government for reducing the vehicle import tax stating that it would benefit only few people. He said not even 10,000 people could afford luxury vehicles.