Amidst speculation of splitting into two :

UNP in make or break talks tomorrow

by Jaliya Wijeyekoon

The UNP trio, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa met yesterday and held extensive discussions with regard to the party’s reorganisation to re-establish its lost glory. This is a sequel to the proposals submitted by the United Bhikkhu Front.

The discussion was cordial and the three of them agreed to a number of issues shedding personal opinions aside on some crucial matters for the greater good of the party.

However, some media reports said that the party was on the verge of splitting into two as disgruntled reformists were not interested in accepting Ranil Wickremesinghe as its leader any more. The final phase of this all-important discourse will be held tomorrow in the morning and would be submitted to the party’s working committee in the afternoon. It is reliably learnt that all decisions of the trio will be unanimously ratified by the party’s working committee and thereafter the new measures will be effective according to the party constitution.

The national organiser of the UNP Daya Gamage told the Sunday Observer that the party had languished in the Opposition for several years not due to the weakness of a particular person or a few but all were responsible for the party’s continuous defeats including himself as the National Organiser.

Everybody has now realised their shortcomings and arrived at a firm decision to work as a single unit.

“We have formed a Supreme Leadership Council which will be chaired by Karu Jayasuriya and all other members would be delegated with responsibilities in the party’s organisational mechanism.

All future decisions will be taken by the Supreme Council which will be subsequently ratified by the party’s working committee.

Daya Gamage was optimistic that with the new initiatives the Grand Old Party would definitely have a new lease of life and form a UNP government at the next general election.