Parties windup election campaign

[TamilNet, Saturday, 07 October 2000, 12:44 GMT]
Political parties and independent groups contesting parliamentary elections will end their campaigning Saturday midnight, 48 hours prior to election date as stipulated in the parliamentary election Act. Meanwhile the police has stepped security measures in Colombo and its suburb as major political parties are holding their final rallies in the capital.
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UNP to probe Ashraff death

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 October 2000, 16:24 GMT]
The Leader of the United National Party Ranil Wickremasinghe has said that he would appoint a commission to probe the mysterious death in a helicopter crash last month of Mr.M.H.M.Ashraff, founder president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, if he is elected to power.
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UNP releases election manifesto

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 September 2000, 14:46 GMT]
The election manifesto released today by the United National Party (UNP) stated that the constitution would not be amended until a political solution to devolve powers agreeable to all political parties is reached. The clergy, civil organisations and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would also be consulted for a broad consensus, the manifesto further said.
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Cooray's party to contest elections

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 August 2000, 11:31 GMT]
'Citizens Front', a new political party led by a former United National Party (UNP) strong man, Mr.Sirisena Cooray has decided to contest in 22 electoral districts out of 25 during the forthcoming general election.
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Cessation of hostilities if elected -Ranil

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 August 2000, 13:20 GMT]
The United National Party (UNP) will bring about a cessation of hostilities agreement with the Liberation Tigers if it comes to power said party leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a press conference Sunday at the opposition leader's office in Colombo.
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Complaint about PA bribing UNP parliamentarian

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 19:07 GMT]
A complaint has been lodged with the Bribery and Corruption Commission requesting a full investigation in to a 1.5 million rupee bribe said to have been offered to a United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian by a ruling People's Alliance (PA) MP as an inducement to vote in favour of the new constitution bill.
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UNP first to seek Norway's help - Bondevik

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 19:03 GMT]
The United National Party was the first to seek Norway's assistance in the effort to find a political settlement to the ethnic conflict on the island when it was in power in 1990 according to Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Norwegian Prime Minister. he made this statement when delivering the keynote address at the commemoration meeting to mark the first death anniversary of veteran foreign minister A.C.S.Hameed, held at Colombo Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall Thursday evening.
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Former Norwegian PM will not speak to leaders

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2000, 12:50 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Mr.Kjell Magne Bondevik will not hold talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe as scheduled, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo said Thursday.
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Former Norwegian PM visits Colombo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2000, 21:45 GMT]
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik will arrive in Colombo on a two day visit Wednesday afternoon. During his stay in Colombo he will have talks with President Chandrika Kumaratunge, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.
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Media Reformation bill tabled by opposition

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 15 August 2000, 18:39 GMT]
A motion on Media Reformation tabled by the Leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and eight others was taken for discussion Tuesday afternoon in the parliament.
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UNP opts out of debating Constitution Bill

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 August 2000, 14:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition, the United National Party (UNP) has decided not to participate in the debate on the new Constitution Bill submitted by the Government to the Parliament. This decision was taken at the UNP parliamentary group meeting chaired by Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, Leader of the Opposition Thursday.
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Show package to Buddhist clergy, LTTE -UNP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 July 2000, 16:19 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition party said Thursday that the Sri Lankan government should present the final draft proposals on constitutional reforms to the Buddhist clergy, all political parties and the Liberation Tigers before taking the package to Parliament. The United National Party said in a press release this afternoon that the dicussions it had had with the government on constitutional reforms proceeded on the basis that "when consensus was reached, such consensus will be placed before the Maha Sangha, heads of the other religious denominations, all political parties and the LTTE".
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UNP leader walks out of talks with govt.

[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 July 2000, 10:37 GMT]
The leader of the Sri Lanka's main opposition party Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe walked out of talks between his party and the government on constitutional changes aimed at resolving the island's ethnic conflict Friday evening in protest against allegations in the state media that he has links with the Liberation Tigers. Mr.Wickremesinghe told the government delegation led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike that he will not take part in talks on the proposed constitutional changes until his name is cleared by the authorities, according to a spokesman of the United National Party.
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Streets blocked by UNP protesters

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 July 2000, 17:49 GMT]
An estimated twenty-five-thousand people attended the mass protest campaign organised by the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) on Tuesday evening opposite Maradana railway station in Colombo.
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Monks call for political opposition to devolution package

[TamilNet, Thursday, 29 June 2000, 18:52 GMT]
A leading Buddhist monk, Venerable Maduluwe Sobitha Thera, appealed on Thursday to members of Parliament belonging to the two major Sinhala dominated political parties not to become traitors to their own community by supporting the devolution package prepared by their leaders.
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India extends $100 million credit to Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 June 2000, 19:40 GMT]
India's Minister of External affairs of India, Sri Jaswant Singh said his government would extend to Sri Lanka a credit facility of 100 million US dollars, according to a statement regarding his visit to the island issued Monday by Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry. The statement had been approved by both governments, officials said.
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UNP bomb blast suspects further remanded

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 May 2000, 16:47 GMT]
Four suspects, described as the chief organizers of the UNP in the Batticaloa district, were Tuesday further remanded till June 13 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge D.G.Kulatilleke who is conducting the Magisterial inquiry into the Town Hall bomb blast on December 18, 1999.
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Pickering says north needs humanitarian assistance

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 May 2000, 10:18 GMT]
US Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering who called on United National Party leader Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe today at his office in Colombo told media persons that there is a need for humanitarian assistance in the northern province. An Indian TV journalist asked Mr.Pickering whether the US will provide military assistance to Sri Lanka. "No" the US Under Secretary of state replied emphatically.
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Ranil criticises gagging of press

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 May 2000, 14:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka's opposition leader Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe Thursday lambasted the government in Parliament for suppressing the freedom of expression. He pointed out that the appeal procedure available to the papers that have been shut down by the Sri Lankan government is specious. He called on the government to immediately withdraw the regulation that gives sweeping powers to the government to shut down papers and printing presses.
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Send succor to Jaffna troops - Ranil

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 May 2000, 14:27 GMT]
Addressing the Sri Lankan Parliament today on the war crisis in northern Sri Lanka, opposition leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the government should guarantee the life and property of the civilians in Jaffna. The opposition leader urged the Sri Lankan government to send food and medicine urgently required by the beleaguered troops in Jaffna.
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