New chapter for Grand Old Party!

Tuesday, 5 November 2013 01:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Working Committee appoints team of rivals to Leadership Council
Ranil appointed National Leader
Karu appointed Council Chairman
Radical changes for the better - Ranil
Sajith slams appointment process, refuses to sit on Council

By Dharisha Bastians In a historic move, the UNP Working Committee transferred its powers to a nine-member Leadership Council to be headed by Karu Jayasuriya, but the new Council faced an early setback when the leading proponent for reform Sajith Premadasa refused to participate in the process. The new Leadership Council under the chairmanship of Jayasuriya will greet the press at 11 a.m. at Sirikotha today, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe announced following the meeting yesterday. “Today after much deliberation, the UNP is taking a radical step. For the first time the powers of the Leader will be transferred to a Leadership Council headed by a man who has won the faith and support of most UNPers, including myself,” Wickremesinghe told reporters at the Party Headquarters last evening. As part of the reforms adopted by the Working Committee at a meeting at Sirikotha last evening, Ranil Wickremesinghe will retain the position of UNP National Leader. The Working Committee that appointed the Leadership Council named Jayasuriya as Council Chairman and MPs Sajith Premadasa, Ravi Karunanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Tissa Attanayake, Thalatha Athukorala, Kabir Hashim, Ruwan Wijewardene and Mangala Samaraweera as members.

Jayasuriya hailed the reforms as historic and a step in the right direction. “I was born in an era when Sri Lanka was stepping into independent self rule and it is my dream to live out my days in a democratic country and not a dictatorship,” the new Council Chairman told the Daily FT, adding that it was only the UNP that could restore Sri Lanka’s democratic credentials. “Finally, the United National Party is united,” he said. Jayasuriya added that it was his fervent hope that as of yesterday, the party’s internal battles had ended and it could now begin its external fight to oust the Rajapaksa regime. Jayasuriya explained that the UNP had a brilliant, young and energetic team that none could rival. “It is my desire to unite them to become a formidable and victorious force,” he said. The new Council Chairman also thanked the United Bhikku Front for initiating the reform and steering the Party out of crisis. Making a call for party unity, Wickremesinghe requested all UNP members to extend their unstinted cooperation to the new Leadership Council. “I wish to make a special request of all those who have distanced themselves from the UNP because of external influences or because of personal disagreements with me,” Wickremesinghe said. “Let’s forget the unfortunate past and move on. Let’s unite for the sake of the party and begin a new journey.” Wickremesinghe said he was confident that all members of the Leadership Council would put aside differences and personal glorification and put the party first.