UNP reforms to be discussed - General Secretary Tissa Attanayake

by Manjula Fernando

The UNP will further discuss the Joseph Michael Perera report, which proposed drastic reforms to the party constitution, at the next Executive Committee meeting to be held in the first week of August.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said they could not reach agreement on a number of amendments, includings as to who should be allowed to ‘vote’ in case of a secret ballot to elect the leader, a key proposal in the Perera Report.

There were conflicting proposals by Hambantota UNP district MP Sajith Premadasa and Colombo UNP District MP Ravi Karunanayake on the voting process. While Premadasa proposed that the provincial councillors and members of the local bodies should be given voting rights, Karunanayake argued the heads of UNP regional bodies should also be counted in such a case.

“There are no major controversies but it needs to be further discussed,” the General Secretary said.There have been 3-4 amendments on which the executive committee will try to reach consensus before the amended report is tabled for approval.

Asked when the UNP annual convention would be held, Attanayake said there was no fixed date but the annual convention can be convened within seven days of notice.

“He however, said that the report has to be approved by the Executive Committee before the Convention is held,”.

On the rumours that earlier the UNP had scheduled its convention to be held in August, the General Secretary said although a TV channel had announced so, that was never their plan.