Leadership crisis: UNP to meet again today

Wednesday, 23 March 2011 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The resolution of the leadership crisis in the main Opposition UNP got further delayed after the party failed to reach a consensus on the way forward.

Following two days of debate within the Working Committee on the crisis and the way forward party members are hopeful a finality to be reached today.

Sources said that a unanimous decision was made to select Ranil Wickremesinghe as the UNP leader whilst a contest is expected for the Deputy Leader post between leadership aspirants Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya.

Senior member Tilak Marapone was appointed as the competent officer to conduct the vote to elect the Deputy Leader whilst Premadasa had asked for more time to make his stand.

Other sources said that Premadasa had eventually decided to contest as well as mooting twp deputy leader posts via an amendment to the UNP constitution.

Given the unconvincing developments and impasse the UNP Working Committee meeting yesterday adjourned inconclusively with the intent of reconvening today.