There is room for another person to become the leader of UNP other than myself: Ruwan

There is room for anyone in the UNP to become the party leader in the future other than myself, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene said on Tuesday.

Mr. Wijewardene who was speaking to journalists after engaging in religious observances at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara on Tuesday said UNP is not a private property of anyone.

“Present Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has not promised me the leadership. He has told us that the current Deputy Leader does not necessarily have to become the leader though there is not restriction to such an eventuality. There is room for another person to become the leader of UNP other than myself. UNP leadership is not confined to a family or two. I was elected as the Deputy Leader though Mr. Wickremesinghe, who is a relative of mine. UNP is not a private property of anyone,” Mr. Wijewardene said.

“UNP Working committee will decide on the new leadership. I will vie for leadership, if I get the support of the party members. There may be another secret ballot to choose the leader if a number of persons compete. I am not greedy for positions, but the party should be safeguarded. UNP is not my private property. UNP is related to Sri Lanka’s history. It will be a crime to destroy it,” he added.

“We can revive the party without any doubt. We did not experience a defeat at the general elections, but got an opportunity to revive the party. We distanced ourselves when we were elected to office. That was the reason for the result that we had suffered at the general elections. I am confident that we can revive the party. One has to unite all who have different opinions. We will talk to all sections within the party,” he said.

Chief incumbent of the Kelaniya Rajamaha Vihara Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera who conducted religious observances advised Mr. Wijewardene to introduce changes that are deemed necessary. He said this by citing a jathaka story. “You have to bring in changes which are deemed necessary, as it is thought in Buddhism,” the prelate said. He said the Mr. Wijewardene should work diligently as the position he had got in the UNP is an important one. (Yohan Perera and Lal S. Kumara)