PM to defuse Sajith-Ravi rift

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to take steps towards resolving the current conflict between UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake next week, informed sources said.

Sources close to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said he had decided to get Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Karunanayake to patch up after UNP back bench MPs expressed their concern about the issue. They have informed the Prime Minister that the conflict would affect the party adversely.

They have also told the Prime Minister that the party should make maximum use of both Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Karunanayake.

Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Karunanayake were engaged in a verbal attack with each other last week.

Meanwhile, Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera in response to a question raised by journalists at a media conference on the issue, described it as a personal matter between the two and it would not affect the party.

He said the issue between the two ministers would be automatically resolved as time goes on.(Yohan Perera)