Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige Courtesy The Daily News

Outgoing MP Dayasiri Jayasekara yesterday said the government would continue to win all elections for more than 10 years without any challenge.

He revealed that resisting sexual harassment was the main reason that forced him to leave the UNP. (Please see box story).

Making a special statement in Parliament, he also said that the UNP members have no freedom of thought and its leader is in a process of ridding the party of all the members who are loved by the party supporters. Dayasiri Jayasekara further stated that a large number of popular members of the UNP have been removed from their electorates.

He further assured that the government would gain a historic victory at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. He also stated the Opposition’s dream is to regain power in 2022 and he stated that it would only remain a dream.

“The UNP trade unions strength which was 72,000 in 1994 has now reduced to 9,000.

The trade union of the UNP has become a ‘Walking skeleton’ under the UNP leadership.

He added that the most senior UNP Leaders crossed over as they did not see a future for the country with the UNP. He also stated that the UNP would never win elections until the Rajapaksas are loved by the people in the country.

He said the UNP always embraced a bankrupt political strategy. He added that in 2008, the UNP discussed as to how the operations against terrorism would be defeated.

Johnston Fernando, Lakshman Seneviratne would reveal the truth. We stood against those malicious moves. The UNP taught its members such condemnable qualities that went against the country.

He made these observation making a statement that he decided to resign from his seat in Parliament due to the difficult situation created in the UNP restraining its members freedom of thought.

He added that the freedom of thought in the UNP has been dangerously threatened. He added that he decided to join the government as a member who loves democracy and contest at the North-Western Provincial Council Election as the Chief Ministerial candidate.

He stated that he would not forget the UNP members who voted for him. He said that he would serve them as the Chief Minister.

He invited them all to gain him at the upcoming election and rally round the government to serve the country.

Dayasiri Jayasekara made his speech after the speech made by UNP MP Sajith Premadasa. The second reading on the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill was being taken up and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who was presiding announced that MP Dayasiri Jayasekara was to make a special statement.

Dayasiri Jayasekara continued his speech for about 40 minutes. The government members thumped on their desks welcoming his decision. Most of the government members later hugged outgoing MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

Chaminda Perera

UNP stalwart Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday revealed that resisting sexual harassment was the main reason for the UNP hierarchy seeking revenge against him, forcing him to join the UPFA.

“The UNP has become a decaying tree due to the despotic

leadership of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe”, he said.

Jayasekera who made his parliamentary debut following the 2004 General Election from the Katugampola electorate in the Kurunegala District, yesterday said that the dictatorial leadership of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in the United National Party had made UNPers disillusioned and disgruntled.

He said UNP reformists including him tried to change this despotism in the party and establish democracy for years unsuccessfully.

Jayasekera said the UNP leader changed the Party’s Constitution of his own accord to remain in the leadership for another six years with callous regard to the party’s future. Speaking at a press conference at the Parliamentary Complex soon after the announcement of his resignation, Jayasekera said that he could have got a Cabinet portfolio by crossing over to the Government in Parliament. But his wish was otherwise.

“I have a responsibility to protect the dignity of the people who have voted for me at the last elections. I decided to resign from the party and seek a fresh mandate from the people to serve the people of my province and the country,” Jayasekera added. Jayasekera who received the highest preferential vote from the UNP next to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last General Election, said his decision will make the people victorious. He said the UNP will face a crisis at the North Western Province since many UNP grassroots leaders are prepared to leave the party and join the Government.

Jayasekera added that he will devote his heart and soul to protect the UPFA Government and the President by serving the people to the best of his ability.