UNP to recreate two vital posts

Rousing welcome for SB:

by Ananda Kanangara and Daneshi Yatawara

The United National Party has decided to reestablish the Assistant and the Deputy Leader posts amidst chaos at the party convention held yesterday, sources said.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe received approval from the committee members to amend the Party constitution.

According to sources Member of Parliament S.B. Dissanayake received a greater applause from the party hailing him as the deputy leader. Many senior members who attended the convention were surprised that their leader harldy received a welcome when he was to address his party members. In addition to the approval to amend the party constitution the Opposition Leader appealed from the 17 MPs who earlier joined the Government, lead by Minister Karu Jayasuriya, to rejoin the party.

It was later reported that Wickramasinghe's decision to give Minister Jayasuriya the Deputy Leader post was one of the ploys to mislead the Government.

"If the Opposition Leader wanted it to develop the Party he had enough time to do so.

But now is not the time," Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said commenting on the party constitution amendments. "We have seen many such decisions in the past.

They were just decisions and were never put in to action," Minister Abeygunawardene added.

According to UNP sources as well as from outside informants, a group of UNP MPs are of the view that it is pointless to face elections under the leadership of Wickramasinghe and it is better to remain in the opposition for another six-year term.

These MPs are to meet a UNP Minister to discuss how best they could find a way to support the government with majority power.

Well informed sources confirmed that plans are underway to create a clash between S.B. Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa .

This was clear at yesterday's party convention as Sajith Premadasa was not given a chance speak. Premadasa sensing it turned up at the convention early and met his senior colleagues.

Meanwhile the party Working Committee has obtained powers to fill the posts.The UNP annual convention was held under the patronage of party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

MPs Rukman Senanayaka, Tissa Attanayake and D.M. Swaminathan remain as party Chairman, General Secretary and the Treasurer.

Asked about the possible candidates for these posts, UNP Media Spokesman, Gayantha Karunatillaka told the Sunday Observer that several names including Sajith Premadasa, Vajira Abewardana and S. B. Dissanayaka have been proposed for the post of Deputy Leader.

"But the party has not yet taken a decision in this regard,". He said, the party passed a resolution on the current political situation.

"The party also decided to take action against the government for not bringing down the cost of living and arresting corruption in State institutions," he said.

He said a no confidence motion will be presented in Parliament tomorrow against the government's inability to stop corrupt practices in State institutions.