Sri Lanka's main opposition conducts fourth phase of 'Touring Villages' campaign in Kotte

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to carry out the fourth phase of its Grama Charika ('Touring Villages') programme in the Kotte electorate of the Colombo District this weekend.

The Grama Charika programme was launched last year with the aim of reaching out to the party's grassroots level membership.

Party leader Ranil Wickremasinghe and deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya is to participate in the event. The programme commenced at the Naga Viharaya in Kotte at 8:00 a.m. today.

UNP Hambantota District MP and leadership hopeful Sajith Premadasa is expected to participate in the event tomorrow (9).

Premadasa, who conducted a ceremony under the Sasunata Aruna programme in Kotte yesterday (7), is at an event at Pulligoda Rajamaha Viharaya in Polonnaruwa today.

Under the programme, Premadasa distributes funds to help develop local Buddhist temples and Sunday schools to mark the 2600 Sambuddatwa Jayanthi celebrations this year.

Premadasa recently announced his desire to run for the party leadership as a majority of local government members of the party want him to take up the leadership before the next local government election.

Present leadership under Ranil Wickremasinghe has come under severe criticism from party members after his party's continual loss of successive elections.