SB says the whole party hierachy needs to be modernised

Former Samurdhi, Agriculture and Sports minister called for changes in the UNP hierarchy that cost the parts 13 defeats.

“If the biggest change possible is changing the leadership, I think that should happen,” he told Elmo Fernando of BBC Sandeshaya.

New leadership

Dissanayake, who was jailed during Chandrika Kumaratunga presidency for making defamatory remarks on judiciary, was pardoned by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.

But the pardon did not reinstate his civic rights removed as a result of being imprisoned.

If the biggest change possible is changing the leadership, I think that should happen SB Dissanayake

Former minister Renuka Herath was recently swon-in as a parliamentarian for the seat vacated by Dissanayake in Nuwara Eliya district.

Dissanayake was highly critical of the party discipline.

“Members delete nomination lists and include their own names without even informing the General Secretary,” he said commenting on the recent mess on filing nominations to Colombo Municipal Council.

Presidential elections

“Those who don’t obey party dicsipline should be sacked,” he told bbcsinhala.com.

Welcoming him on Friday in Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo, former minister Mahinda Wijesekara addressed Dissanayake “the future leader” of the UNP.

UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe chaired the rally.

UNP leadership took for granted the support from the membership during the November 17 presidential elections, Dissanayake said, an attitude that cost the party the country’s highest position.

Strongly criticising the way the party conducted its affairs during Kumaratunga presidency he called for an open dialogue for democratic changes in the UNP.