WIJEPALA MENDIS SUSPENDED(98 Jun 24)
The membership of Mr. Wijepala Mendis who was found guilty of corruption by a Presidential Commission has been suspended temporarily by the UNP. The commission had recommended to suspend Mr. Mendis's civic rights. At the meeting of the executive committee of the UNP only seven members had abstained from voting on the motion to suspend Mr. Mendis. All the others had voted in favour of the motion.
However not all the members of the UNP are happy about the suspension. Some of the members ask the question why Mr. Mendis has been singled out? If he is guilty then there are so many others who can be found fault with. Why no action is being taken against them?
Many UNPers feel that there is some sinister motive behind this action. Mr. Mendis was the only Buddhist UNP MP from the Gampaha district. Are there any moves to appoint a non-Buddhist in place of Mr. Mendis? If that is the case it is very unfortunate, as at this critical juncture in the history all the Sinhala people should be united.