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. |