UNP leadership battle looms over Working Committee

• Existing Working Committee term ends on 31 Dec.
• Premadasa supporters push for fresh WC appointment soon from party leader 
• Focus on getting leadership issue sorted before WC as soon as possible 

The leadership battle within the United National Party (UNP) is poised to take a fresh turn with supporters of MP Sajith Premadasa pushing for a new Working Committee (WC) to be appointed early in the New Year, soon after the current one’s term expires next Tuesday, a party member said yesterday. 

The term of the UNP Working Committee will come to an end on 31 December. 

Earlier this month, Premadasa supporters had sent a letter with 25 signatures asking for UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to call for a Working Committee meeting. The Working Committee is integral to the process of deciding the party leadership. However, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had denied receiving the letter requesting for a Working Committee meeting. 

The letter was sent after a six-member committee that was appointed the UNP leadership to decide on several matters including the future of the party after its unimpressive performance at the Presidential Elections. 

Responding to a question on the party’s leadership issues, UNP Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara reiterated to Daily FT that representations had been made via a letter to the party leadership to call a Working Committee meeting as soon as possible to address the leadership matter. However, the term of the committee will end on 31 December. 

“We had made a request to convene a meeting of the UNP Working Committee because there has to be democracy in the party,” he said, pointing out that Ranil Wickremesinghe as leader of the party will appoint a new Working Committee. 

Former party Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa had also stated that he will not accept the responsibility of the prime ministerial candidacy for the upcoming General Elections unless he is given the leadership of the party as well. 

Earlier UNP MP Ajith P. Perera had stated the UNP will reach consensus on the party leadership by the first week of January. However, it remains unclear if a new Working Committee will be appointed to discuss the matter in time. 

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was not available for comment.