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Dissanayake brothers' fight will lose votes for UNP leader..
[b]Dissanayake brothers' fight will lose votes for UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe[/b]
By Anne Rodrigo – Asian Tribune
[b]Colombo, 09 September, (Asiantribune.com): [/b] In the latest round of the feud between the two Dissanayake brothers, Saliya, the rebel who has decided to back Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse defying his brother, S. B. Dissanayake, the chief Organiser of the UNP, told the Asian Tribune: "Winning Hanguranketha (his UNP brother's electorate) for the Prime Minister Rajapakse in the forthcoming presidential election is a piece of cake!"
Whether Saliya wins the Hanguranketha electorate or not the divisions in the Dissanayake family will mean a loss of votes for the UNP presidential candidate, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Saliya Dissanayake, a Central Provincial Councillor, is also the Chief Organiser of the UNP stronghold, Hanguranketha.
S.B. Dissanayake, now serving a prison sentence for contempt of court, has reportedly sent a letter Kalutara district UNPer, Rajitha Senaratne saying it was a great consolation for him that Saliya, his brother, has been removed from the (UNP) party.
Dismissing reports that he was removed from the UNP, Saliya Dissanayake said he received a letter on September 8, inviting him for a meeting at Sirikotha, (UNP Headquarters) on September 31. He added: "The party sent me another letter couple of days ago requesting that I have to make sure that the photographs used for the leader's poster campaign in Haguranketha are of good quality. The letter also said that I should seek permission from Mr. Wickremesinghe's close confidant, Saman Athaudahetty before using the photos for posters. Will they send me letter like this, if I had been removed from the party?" he asked.
Dissanayake said: "I still have my office vehicle bearing the number 18-5097".
Question: The media reported that your brother wrote a letter to UNPer Rajitha Senaratne saying that your removal from the party has been a consolation for him. Have you been removed from the UNP?
Saliya Dissanayake: I also came to know about my so-called removal through the papers. SB has said that I was removed from the party six months ago. I went to England for a workshop, in the capacity of a Provincial Councillor, in March with the permission of the party leadership. I have not got any confirmation that I have been removed from the party so far.