Johnston turns down Malik’s offer

The Kurunegala district leadership was offered to Kurunegala District Parliamentarian and leader of the UNP rebel group Johnston Fernando by a group of UNP senior members led by Malik Samarawickrama who asked him to rescind his decision.

When contacted by the Sunday Observer Johnston Fernando revealed that Malik Samarawickrama invited him to accept the district leadership and work for the UNP. Johnston Fernando, the Youth Affairs and Sports Minister under the Ranil Wickremasinghe Cabinet from 2001 to 2004, said that the UNP should contest the Presidential Election under its name and the elephant symbol.

Ranil’s desire is to appoint Akila Viraj Kariyawasam as the Kurunegala District leader. Chamal Senerath, who is a close friend of Akila, has been already named as the Kurunegala District UNP leader by Ranil, he claimed.