{"id":95285,"date":"2019-11-17T00:57:53","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T07:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=95285"},"modified":"2019-11-17T00:57:53","modified_gmt":"2019-11-17T07:57:53","slug":"sajith-steps-down-as-unps-deputy-leader-conveys-wishes-to-gotabaya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/11\/17\/sajith-steps-down-as-unps-deputy-leader-conveys-wishes-to-gotabaya\/","title":{"rendered":"Sajith steps down as UNP\u2019s deputy leader, conveys wishes to Gotabaya"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ada Derana<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Minister Sajith Premadasa, who contested at the forefront in the \nPresidential Election 2019 from New Democratic Front (NDF), has \nannounced his decision to step down as Deputy Leader of the United \nNational Party (UNP) with immediate effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister Harin Fernando, taking to his official Facebook account \ntoday (17), published a special statement from Minister Premadasa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, DNF contender has conveyed his wishes to the seventh \nPresident of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who contested in the \nPresidential race and currently leading the election results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is my privilege to honour the decision of the people and \ncongratulate Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his election as the seventh \nPresident of Sri Lanka,\u201d Premadasa said in his special statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premadasa says the country has witnessed the most peaceful \nPresidential Election in the history of its independent republic. This \nwas a result of the democratic gains and institutional reforms that have\n taken place over the last five years that empowered an independent \nelections commission and restored the rule of law, Premadasa said \nfurther.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He appealed to the incoming President is that he would take this \nprocess forward and strengthen and protect the democratic institutions \nand values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Premadasa expressed his gratitude for those who assisted him in his \npresidential bid and the people who stood by him through his political \njourney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complete statement of Minister Sajith Premadasa is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the conclusion of a hard-fought and spirited election campaign, it\n is my privilege to honour the decision of the people and congratulate \nMr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his election as the seventh President of Sri \nLanka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of our citizens who voted for\n me, in all corners of the island. I am humbled that you placed your \nfaith in me. Your support has been a fountain of strength throughout my \ntwenty-six-year-long political career. I also wish to place on record my\n gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly on my campaign. My family \nand I will never forget your sacrifice and dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have just witnessed the most peaceful presidential election in the\n history of our independent republic. This was a result of the \ndemocratic gains and institutional reforms that have taken place over \nthe last five years that empowered an independent election commission \nand restored the rule of law. My appeal to the incoming President is \nthat he take this process forward and strengthen and protect the \ndemocratic institutions and values that enabled his peaceful election as\n the 7th President of Sri Lanka. I also urge Mr. Rajapaksa to ensure \nthat the post-election environment is peaceful and that no citizen or \nNDF party supporter is persecuted or harmed for their role in supporting\n my candidacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 26 years, I have been an active politician in this country. \nDuring that time, I have made every effort to serve the people, in my \nhome district of Hambantota and wherever and whenever they needed my \nassistance. It has been my privilege to serve as Housing Minister in \nthis Government for five years, prioritizing the creation of a \nhome-owning society by 2025. I hope the people understand that these \nwere sincere, heartfelt efforts to uplift the lives of my fellow \ncitizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In light of today\u2019s decision by the electorate, I have decided to \nstep down as Deputy Leader of the United National Party with immediate \neffect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the coming weeks, in consultation with all those who supported my \npresidential bid, the people who have stood by me through my political \njourney and my loved ones, I will reflect on the future of my political \ncareer and where my life will take me hereafter. Bound to the people of \nSri Lanka, I remain their faithful servant, today and always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/ins><\/ins><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ada Derana Minister Sajith Premadasa, who contested at the forefront in the Presidential Election 2019 from New Democratic Front (NDF), has announced his decision to step down as Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP) with immediate effect. Minister Harin Fernando, taking to his official Facebook account today (17), published a special statement from […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95285\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}