It now appears as if the debate between the JHU and its former Deputy General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila is not taking off the ground as the latter has said he is only able to allocate time for the television debate after January 05 – when the propaganda campaign is over.

Gmamanpila, issuing a media statement this morning, said his dates were already reserved for election meetings for the UPFA at home and abroad. “Therefore”, he said, “I am not able to take part in the debate on December 29 – the date which was decided by the JHU. I can only give a time after January 05 and the television station can air it as a recorded programme. “

Gammanpila also said that his party had expressed displeasure over the debate due to” certain reasons “ which he did not want to disclose.

The former Deputy General Secretary of the JHU also raised concern over the person who was nominated by the party for the debate. He said he said the party had only nominated Anuruddha Pradeep, who, according to Gammanpiila, was a “second tier leader” of the party.

“He did not engage in political activities on a full-time bases and was not a regular member at Central Committee meetings. He is not aware of certain internal developments that I want to discuss during the debate. It is apparent that JHU General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka and Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe are hiding behind Anuruddha Pradeep to dodge the debate,” Gammanpila also said in his statement.

Anuruddha Pradeep, a unicersity lecturer by profession, is the Education Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya.