RW to continue as UNP leader for six more months

18 January 2021 04:12 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will continue to hold on to the party’s leadership post for at least six more months on the unofficial request of party members and organisers, cancelling the party’s earlier plan of appointing a new leader in January, the Daily Mirror learns.

A senior UNP source said that party seniors and organisers had requested Wickremesinghe to continue as the leader till such time the party was completely restructured and reorganised in order to make a strong political comeback in the next election, after suffering a humiliating defeat at the August General Polls, which reduced them to only one national seat in Parliament.

This seat too is yet to be filled. Party members, guided by Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene have begun to interact at grassroot levels and will soon appoint committees in each district.till such time the process is streamlined and completed, wick re me sing he will continue to lead the party, after which the Working

Committee will decide on the new leadership.the entire process is likely to take six more months.

The party is however now facing a further split as following the new appointments made to the UNP last week, senior members Ravi Karunanayake, Navin Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga had been disappointed that they had not received positions which they expected and are likely to exit the party this week.

Just before the Working Committee met, the trio had met Wickremesinghe to discuss what positions they would be nominated on, and when their names were not included, the trio had expressed dissatisfaction.

The Daily Mirror learns that Navin is likely to quit the UNP and support Karu Jayasuriya’s National Movement for Social Justice and plans are afoot to transform this into a broad alliance which will support Sajith Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balawegaya. It is still unsure as to who Ranatunga and Karunanayake will support if they exit the UNP. (JAMILA HUSAIN)

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Comments - 13

RoaringCreek Monday, 18 January 2021 07:27 AM

Oops! The headline was shocking as it says UN. For a few seconds I thought the earth was rotating in the opposite direction.

FF Monday, 18 January 2021 08:15 AM

ARE THESE KIND OF CHANGES MANDATORY???

Ronnie Bugger Monday, 18 January 2021 10:03 AM

Aiyo, aiyo. dummala gahalawath meyava alawanna baha wage.

ram Monday, 18 January 2021 10:39 AM

RW never give up his hold on UNP. Only after his life end only UNP can see a leader to make the party winnable.

vince Monday, 18 January 2021 10:54 AM

What a shameless man. The record-breaking LOSER accepting the position is disgraceful. The UNP leadership is pathetic

Ram Monday, 18 January 2021 10:57 AM

Why only 6 months. You are the UNP Leader for life and the next leader will be elected after you depart this world

tell the marines Monday, 18 January 2021 10:59 AM

"post for AT LEAST six more months (the capitals are mine) - means could cling on to more months !

Saras Monday, 18 January 2021 11:10 AM

Sure to loose the next elections also. UNP WILL NOT SURVIVE.

Leel Monday, 18 January 2021 11:17 AM

There will be no immediate election. Government definitely will not go for Plath Saba election. Government want to help Ranil. Another election for government means dangerous death threat to their buddy Ranil and the robber gang.

Jamaldeen Monday, 18 January 2021 04:07 PM

Ranil will be the UNP leader until his last breath, this is for sure.

Hubert Congreve Monday, 18 January 2021 04:09 PM

Never seen a 3rd class Politician like Ranil. Shame of him after all even did not get a single seat, still he is greed for power.

F.R. Ferdinands Monday, 18 January 2021 04:10 PM

Sajith won't absorb Ravi and Naveen, both are rogues like Ranil.

R. Tennakoon Monday, 18 January 2021 04:12 PM

Ranil for heaven sake please get out now and hand-over it to a Young talented guy like Naveen. You are now a down casted rejected vessel man.

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RW to continue as UNP leader for six more months

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