UNP MP Milinda Moragoda has in a letter to Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called for party unity and resolve to take the country forward under Wickremesinghe's leadership, casting aside internal strife.

Moragoda stated in his letter that he had hitherto refrained from responding to accusations made against him because he believed it would be playing into the hands of the enemies and would shift the focus from the UNP's campaign to win the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) elections.

"I have deliberately avoided responding to these critics because I believed that such public debate simply plays into the hands of those enemies, both internal and external, who would wish to damage the party. I also did not want to shift our focus from the UNP's campaign to win the CMC elections." Moragoda said.

He also explained his reasons for staying away from the political affairs committee and working committee meetings.

"Finally, after elections were won with no tangible support from the party for the campaign, I wanted to see how the party would react to the unfounded accusations and personal invective of my detractors, who in the eyes of the majority of the party make more noise than sense and were responsible for the implosion of the UNF government in 2004. In the same spirit, I decided to stay away from meetings of the political affairs committee and the working committee to which you have been kind enough to appoint me," the letter said.

He stated that despite acting in the best interests of the UNP, his efforts and those of other like-minded members have always been undermined by so-called senior figures in the party.

"I know that you are aware I always acted in the best interests of the UNP. In spite of this, my efforts and those of other like-minded individuals have been constantly undermined by persons who consider themselves to be senior figures within our own party. This has been a cause of great concern to me, and has led me to question whether this is the same UNP for which I have worked since the time when the Late Mr. Premadasa was President, and you were the Leader of the House and a senior cabinet minister."

Moragoda also questioned Wickremesinghe's establishment of an inquiry into the rejection of the Colombo nominations list, stating he was not clear about its benefits in taking the party and the country forward.

"When you established the inquiry into the rejection of the Colombo nominations list, it was unclear as to the benefits this process might have in taking our party and the country forward, but I have remained silent having raised my concerns with you. There was an attempt to subvert this inquiry by a small group whose main aim was to defame others to serve their own personal ends. These same persons simultaneously worked to undermine the party's municipal council candidates for Colombo. I wonder if the founding fathers of our party, who met at Palm Court 60 years ago, would have allowed such internal strife to be publicised by persons who do not even have the support of their own electorates, and who are motivated only by self interest and untempered personal ambition." Moragoda said.

He further asked what good the inquiry had done to solve the issues in the country or party. "That good people have wasted so much time on this inquiry is, I believe, symptomatic of the problems the party faces. Has the outcome of this inquiry helped in any way to stop the bombings and the economic disruption within the country?" he questioned.

The letter further outlined Moragoda's disillusionment with vested interests and called on party members to lay aside personal strife and strive to uphold traditional UNP values for the sake of the people.

"I joined the UNP, along with the vast majority of its current members because I believed it reflected the values of our founding fathers, namely, honour, public service, humility, honesty and personal leadership. They believed in a party that represented all races, religions and other groups in our society. They were dedicated to action, serving the interests of the people and constantly seeking a way forward for the country and the party. For me their vision and personal example meant everything. With the support of the overwhelming majority of our party, I will continue to help uphold those basic values," he said.