Tissa Attanayake Plans Media Circus: Attempts To Storm Into Sirikotha With Supporters

Former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, in an attempt to capture the attention of the political arena, has planned a media circus to be carried out during the next few days, informed sources told Asian Mirror.

Attanayake plans to visit Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters at Pitakotte, along with a group of supporters, alleging that he can visit Sirikotha any time, since he is a MP of the party. His attention seeking move may even cause a clash if it goes out of control, sources said.

Attanayake, a UNP National List MP, pledged his support to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 8, 2014, on the day nominations were accepted for the 2015 Presidential Election. He served as the Health Minister of the Rajapaksa government for a month until the swearing in of the new president Maithripala Sirisena on January 9.

Following this move, the UNP Working Committee expelled Attanayake from the party. However, he filed a petition against the decision at the Supreme Court on March 6. On May 5, Supreme Court determined that the expulsion is invalid since due process had not been followed.

It could be that Attanayake is planning this publicity stunt with the forthcoming general election in mind. There is no guarantee that he will be given nominations from the UNP, informed sources said.