| Ranil outlines UNP thinking to U.S.
audience Describing the UNP as a "new party with a new vision for a new millenium,'' UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe told an audience of mainly Lankans domiciled in the USA that elected institutions like parliament, provincial councils and local government bodies "must serve the people and not the political parties.'' Wickremesinghe who was speaking at the Marriot Hotel in Los Angeles during a fund raising dinner explained that with this objective in mind, they proposed to make a fundamental change in the key institutions of government and ensure free and fair elections. In this connection he pledged to establish three independent commissions responsible for elections, the police and the public service. These commissions would ensure the independence of these three pillars of government. The UNP is already pressing for the immediate establishment on these three commissions and is backing the initiatives of a Citizens Consultation for free and fair elections and the depoliticization of key institutions. Wickremesinghe concluded his speech by reminding his audience that the "elephant moves slowly but swiftly encompassing everything it sees.'' |