Crucial UNP meeting tomorrow

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka

Tomorrow's meeting between the UNP Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and reformists leader Karu Jayasuriya will decide on the fate of the United National Party, said a prominent reformist in the UNP.

He said the meeting would decide whether the UNP would remain as a single entity or split into two. If Wickremesinghe agrees to expedite reforms immediately as expected by the reformists, their decision to join the Government would be reconsidered, a senior reformist leader told the Sunday Observer.

Wickremesinghe will inform the reformists that he would reinstall Jayasuriya as the Deputy leader and nominate other seniors to their earlier posts and expedite reforms expected by the reformists, sources close to Wickremesinghe said.

Of the 25 MPs, 16 have confirmed their defection from the UNP. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa has declined to accommodate 25 as it could lead to Wickremesinghe losing his Opposition leader's post in Parliament. The President had agreed to accommodate a maximum of only 21 MPs, he said.

The reformists have also rented out a new office at Kirulapone, Temple Road to operate a separate UNP group after joining the Government.

The UNP mustered 68 MPs at the last General Election and six MPs have already crossed over to the Government, reducing the total number to 62 with the Speaker. In the event of 24 MPs crossing over, Wickremesinghe would lose his Opposition leader's posts as the JVP with 39 MPs can lay claim for the post.

If the talks fail, the reformists are due to take oaths at an auspicious time on January 29.

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