The Opposition Leader Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe met with the officials and supporters of the UNP-UK Branch during his recent visit to London. He was in London on his way to Prague to attend the annual conference of International Democratic Union. The event was held at Moor-Spice Event Centre in Wembley Park with a large gathering of UNP supporters.
This was his first meeting with the officials of the UK Branch after his intervention in September last year to strengthen the UNP activities here.
The President of the Branch Mr Harsha Siriwardane welcomed the Leader and thanked him for paving way for the formation of a stronger Branch in United Kingdom. He outlined the future plans of the executive committee and highlighted that there had been a significant number of enquiries to join the membership of the Branch.
The party website is going through reconstruction and the future members will be able to join the Branch through the website. The annual membership fee is capped at £10. He also informed the Leader that the executive committee has decided to organise various fund raising and awareness events.
The General Secretary of the Branch, Mr Chinthaka De Silva outlined the progress the Branch has made so far. He also brought to the attention that on instructions from Sirikotha, the Branch has decided to bank with Barclays as the previous account held with Lloyds is no longer valid. He also highlighted that the Branch has now successfully eradicated all the obstacles they faced to make it one strong unit in the UK.
Mr Namal De Zoysa, the Chairman of Youth League acknowledged the remarks made by the General Secretary. He said there were certain elements trying to hamper the progress of the branch activities. He also brought to the attention of the Leader that the Youth Group is planning to organise a “6 a side†cricket tournament in May.
Mr Harshaka Kannangara, the Media Secretary of the Branch informed the Leader that the Branch has so far issued several news releases with regard to recent incidents taken place in Sri Lanka including the assault on Dr Jayalath Jayawardane and attack on participants of the candlelight vigil on independence day. He also pointed out the UNP Professionals Association was set up in December last year as an affiliated organisation of the Branch.
Mr Wickramasinghe in his address commended executive committee for the progress made since his last visit to the UK. He also mentioned that he expects the Branch to educate the Sri Lankan diaspora about the burning issues in Sri Lanka.
He further pointed out that anyone is free to join the membership of the Branch but there will be only one Branch in the UK after his recent intervention to consolidate all groups under one banner. All members should abide by the guidance given by the leadership. He then mentioned that the party headquarters will closely work with the officials in the UK and thanked the members for their continued support. Finally, he mentioned that the UK Branch had been inactive over the past few years and advised the new executive committee that they should now move on and assured his fullest co-operation and support for all future activities.
He posed for an official photograph of executive committee appointed for 2011 and launched the membership drive by giving the first membership card for 2011 to Mr Harsha Siriwardane. The other members also received their membership cards from him. He also gave guidance as to how to take the message of the party to the masses and requested the Branch to liaise with UK political parties, the commonwealth and the UNP Branches in EU.
Harshaka Kannangara
Media Secretary
UNP-UK Branch
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