Former United National Party Deputy Leader and Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake has called for talented individuals from all political parties to unite for the benefit of the country.
Speaking on the need for national unity, Karunanayake said Sri Lanka’s greatest requirement at present is for capable leaders from across the political spectrum to work together in the national interest.
He said that if a broad political alliance is not possible, the country should at least strive for greater unity and cooperation among its leaders.
Referring to Sri Lanka’s political history, Karunanayake noted that the country’s first Prime Minister, D. S. Senanayake, united Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers and Malays under one national identity at the time of independence in 1948.
He stressed that Sri Lankans should preserve that spirit of unity and not allow it to weaken.
Karunanayake added that the country now needs people of all communities and political backgrounds to unite under one Sri Lankan flag.
He also welcomed recent efforts by several Tamil political parties to work together, saying broader political unity would be a positive step for the country’s future.
