Impasse at UNP Working Committee meet; Final decision today on leadership crisis

Tuesday, 22 March 2011 00:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Working Committee of Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) met yesterday and decided to meet again today evening to make a final decision on the leadership crisis.

It is learnt that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had said elections could be held to decide on future officer bearers whilst MP Dayasiri Jayasekara had said holding an election will further divide the party and the best course was to come to a mutual understanding. Given the impasse the meeting was adjourned to be reconvened today evening.

Meanwhile ColomboPage quoting unnamed UNP sources said nothing significant was discussed at yesterday’s meeting, as most of the members had expressed the need to resolve the leadership crisis in the party.

Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has also said the issue needed to be resolved according to the party constitution. Therefore, the Working Committee is to meet this evening at 5 p.m to decide on the appointment of new office bearers to the party.

Wickremesinghe meanwhile has said he was not going to step down from the leadership and was willing to contest for the post, ColomboPage said.

According to the new party constitution office bearers have to be elected before 12 April. Today’s Working Committee meeting is the first to be held after the conclusion of the local government elections. The party has not been able to secure victory in any of the elections held since 2001.