UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera, who addressed a press conference in Colombo shortly after his return to Colombo from a visit to England, lashed out at certain media tycoons who, according to him, are trying to create disharmony in his party.

He also added that certain media institutions, owned by such ‘tycoons’, were trying to create issues in the party ahead of every crucial election in the recent past. “What is happening today is a mere continuation of the same process,” Samaraweera said.

“UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe”, Samaraweera asserted, “ is not ready to bow down to pressure exerted by them”. The Parliamentarian said the opposition leader was acting with good intentions and was striving to unite every group and faction of the party.

“They are the enemies of the party who acting in the guise of friends. They are afraid of the opposition leader’s attempts to unite the party and trying their best to disrupt this process. That is exactly why they are slinging mud at the Opposition Leader through various people” Samaraweera said.

When asked about his sudden foreign trip, Samaraweera said his visit to the UK had nothing to do with the recent developments in the party.  “It was planned a few months ago and I informed the party leadership and the General Secretary of the visit. They even scheduled my election meetings in the Uva province accordingly,” the Parliamentarian said adding that he would address a number of meetings in the Uva province next week. 

When asked by journalists whether he had a problem with Hambanthota District MP Sajith Premadasa, Samaraweera said he never had problems with individuals. “For instance, if I meet President Rajapaksa tomorrow, I can have a friendly chat with him without any problem. But that doesn’t mean I approve his principles. My decisions are based on principles and have nothing to with personal preferences. In the same way, I don’t have any personal problem with MP Sajith Premadasa,” Samaraweera responded.