Committee has forgotten or deliberately ignored..., says Karu Jayasuriya

United National Party Parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya states that, on close scrutiny, the
report of the Srinath Perera Committee appointed to investigate the alleged incidents
at Sirikotha on December 19 last year, it is obvious that the report is a culmination of a preconceived partial course of action.

Issuing a media release, the Parliamentarian states it is apparent that this is an attempt to
submit a pre-determined set of recommendations, in the guise of a report.

In his statement, MP Karu Jayasuriya also notes that the Srinath Perera Committee has forgotten or deliberately ignored the fact that on the 19th of December 2011, the day of the election of UNP office bearers, it was prohibited for any outsiders to remain within Sirikotha premises other than the members of the working committee and their security personnel.

He further states that the Committee has failed to observe that through the evidence or photographs, that there were a group of persons remaining within the Sirikotha premises unlawfully on the day of the election.

The release further states that it is not reported as to why the Committee did not inquire to find out how these persons entered the Sirikotha premises prior to the elections and how they remained inside the premises, armed, and why no one took any measures to remove them.

Jayasuriya adds that although it was reported in the media how unarmed persons and ladies were chased and assaulted by these groups that remained within Sirikotha, the Committee has maintained silence on this matter.

Karu Jayasuriya further states in this release that while there were groups supporting Ranil Wickremesinghe and groups opposing Ranil Wickremesinghe at the time of the election, the Committee has made a shameless effort to punish politically the group which opposed Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Jayasuriya who notes that while those who gathered outside the premises of Srikotha did not come at their behest, the Committee must also be reminded that when they point an accusing finger at others there are four fingers pointing at them as well.

Jayasuriya also notes that the report states that according to the evidence placed before them Sajith Premadasa and himself were informed that their supporters were behaving in an unruly manner, adding that the committee states that they should have taken action to control them, as they were holding senior positions.

Jayasuriya also states in the release, ''at the very first instance when a stone was thrown at Sirikotha, I attempted to find out what was happening outside the premises where voting was taking place. But I was prevented by the security personnel and the majority of the working committee members. It seems only the Committee is unaware of this fact.''

He adds that whoever carried out the attack at Sirikotha, they condemned it that very moment.

Furthermore, MP Jayasuriya says that they only thanked those who came there voluntarily with the belief that there should be a change in the party to make it a winning party and not those who attacked Sirikotha.

He also notes that while the Committee has indirectly accepted that there were some persons within the Sirikotha premises, the Committee's shameful attempt to show the innocence of these persons and get away is condemned.

He further states that the Committee accuses the very same people who came forward to defuse the situation for instigating the attack adding that this is an encouragement to banish party activists, those who fight for an ideological change in the party to convert it into a winning party in order to take it along the same old rail.

MP Karu Jayasuriya adds that the party must get away from the policy of attacking selected individuals and strive hard to bring together those who have different views to common policy.

Jayasuriya concludes by saying that they will devote themselves until the last moment to fulfill the hopes and expectations of the larger majority of the people and the members of the UNP and to promote unity within the party.