UNP leaders to meet tomorrow to break deadlock

• UNP General Secretary downplays significance of ‘unofficial’ vote taken by members in Thursday meeting
• Group of UNP MPs met with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in P’ment yesterday to discuss possibility of forming a coalition under his leadership

Leaders of the United National Party (UNP) will meet tomorrow for a special discussion on the future direction of the party. 

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will meet tomorrow to discuss the future of the party, including the party leadership, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the Daily FT. Kariyawasam stated that a Parliamentary Group meeting held last week regarding a change in party leadership ended inconclusively. 

The UNP General Secretary downplayed the significance of the ‘unofficial’ vote taken by members present at the meeting last Thursday (16 January), pointing out that an official vote was not called. 

“The leadership of the UNP is decided by the working committee, not the Parliamentary Group,” he said.

However, the unofficial vote has a symbolic importance, opined MP Harsha de Silva, who pointed out that a vote was the most democratic way to elect a leader. 

The UNP party leadership struggle has been ongoing with both main factions standing their ground, resulting in a deadlock. 

Meanwhile, a group of UNP MPs met with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament yesterday to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition under his leadership.