Opposition parties attend conference in Colombo

COLOMBO (News1st): The national movement for a just society held a conference for opposition parties in Colombo today. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Deputy Leader of the United National Party Ruwan Wijeyawardena were present. Other attendees included Patali Champika Ranawaka, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, parliamentarians M.A. Sumanthiran, and Mano Ganesan. "This meeting today is a historic one. The strength that we have here will enable us to face off against any elements of injustice in society," Karu Jayasuriya, the chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society said. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said the aspirations of the late Ven. Sobitha Thero should be taken into account before embarking on a new one. "We need to look into all of those and unite to prevent this democratic society from sliding down into a dictatorship," Premadasa noted. "I have expressed my opinion that all of us need to come onto one stage if we are to pressurize this government," Ruwan Wijeyawardena, the Deputy Leader of the United National Party said. He added that the UNP is dedicated to protecting democracy and the people's rights. Patali Champika Ranawaka, a Samagi Jana Balawegaya lawmaker said, a new class of poverty has been created in the country. "The most important thing is that the trust of the society in the government, as well as us, will break down, in this crumbling society," he said.