Outside Politics

6th June 1999

The De Mel record

The De Mel - Bandaranaike blow hot blow cold, love-hate relationship has gone on for more than quarter of this century.

De Mel who became an SLFP MP in 1970 joined the UNP in 1975. He re-joined the SLFP and then re-joined the UNP.

This week he was spearheading the UNP campaign in the Matara district. As the list of speakers were being drawn up for a rally in the area, someone suggested Anura Bandaranaike's name.

De Mel was to remark "we don't need a Bandaranaike to win elections".

This was conveyed to the not-so-young Anura Bandaranaike, who retorted "And if he loses, that would also be to a Bandaranaike".

Politics. Politics.

Jungle Telegraph

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