For UNP it is “Twelve” to Tango

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday pledged to stage a sweeping economic revolution in Sri Lanka as he signed the 12 party Alliance launched in parliament. Hoever the government remains unperturbed by the development. * Govt. says agreement makes little difference to UNP’s
political prospects
* Dozen parties sign deal
for new Opposition Alliance
*Ranil promises economic
revolution and full
implementation of 17th
Amendment with people power
Opposition leader and leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana Wing leader Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem, Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan, were among 12 other parties and representatives that signed the agreement.
Speaking at the occasion Wickremesinghe pledged that the new United National Alliance would implement the 17th Amendment and give life to all independent commissions. He insisted that stronger institutions would give stability to the country which would in turn strengthen economic growth. Emphasizing that only such a move would assure democracy and transparency in this country he pointed out that the Dasa Raja Dharma would bring prosperity to the nation.

“This is quite a handful” seems to be UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s animated talk with SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera at the signing ceremony of the 12-party Opposition Alliance yesterday. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan and UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya are also present

In an apparent reaction to the development Deputy Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama speaking in parliament stressed that an alliance would not change the political fortunes of the opposition and that the people remained firmly with the government. Referring to the opposition members during the presentation of the Vote on Account he said that most of them would not return after April.
Calling the people at village level the ‘UNA Army” Wickremesinghe urged all people to join with them to build a strong movement against the government. He called on all stakeholders from professionals to civil society activists to take the lead in this new force and maintained that the UNA would work tirelessly to increase living standards of the common man and give the dividends of peace to the entire country.
“We are all kings,” he said in conclusion having stressed that people power needed to be rekindled at all levels to struggle against the current government.