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Former SJB MP Thalatha Atukorale to rejoin the UNP

01 Sep, 2024

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Former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Thalatha Atukorale says she will be rejoining the United National Party (UNP) to back party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Sunday Morning reported.

Atukorale said that she is also prepared to accept the post of General Secretary of the UNP.

“I am saying it for the first time. I will help the President?s campaign in whatever way I can and I will go back to the party.?I decided this because there are a lot of people ? at the last election I got over 45,000 votes to get into Parliament ? who spoke to me after my resignation who have stood by me. It?s not a massive number ? anyone can say ?because the people wanted me? ? but I have to listen to the people who have stood by me for the last 20 years.?When they came to meet me last weekend, I told them I had three options: give up politics and be at home, join the President, or join another political party. The preference was for me to help the President win this election. I gave some thought to it and decided to help the President,” Atukorale told the newspaper.

Athukorala made a shocking resignation from Parliament recently after making a lengthy speech where she expressed disappointment at the decision taken by Wickremesinghe and former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa to run for President.

She accused the two leaders of being selfish instead of thinking of the future of the country.

Athukorala said she was disappointed that the UNP split into two and that no attempt was made to unite the two factions.?(Colombo?Gazette)

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