Ranil-Sajith standoff widens despite reconciliation efforts

6 February 2020 08:25 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The United National Party (UNP) continues to face a major split despite the working committee reaching a compromise last week to appoint opposition leader Sajith Premadasa as head of the new UNF alliance and its prime ministerial candidate, and Ranil Wickremesinghe to continue as the UNP leader.

Some of the party seniors told Daily Mirror yesterday that despite repeated requests of reconciliation, Premadasa and Wickremesinghe were yet to sit at the table and talk for the benefit of the party.

“Premadasa refused to attend working committee meetings after the party suspended the membership of four from the central committee while he and his camp were meeting separately to discuss election work. Decisions being made by Sajith's faction were not being conveyed to Wickremesinghe and his camp which resulted in a deadlock between the two groups,” they said.

Some members from Sajith's faction told Daily Mirror that Wickremesinghe was 'hell-bent' in retaining UNP leadership despite a majority in the party and its allies calling for a leadership change. Thus, it is difficult for Sajith to 'reason' with Wickremesinghe as they believed Wickremesinghe was working against the party agenda.

Senior members vented their frustration at the deepened rift between the two factions saying this could affect party performance at the upcoming general elections. Several members have now issued a new deadline of one week urging the two leaders to leave aside their differences and reconcile. Several deadlines issued in the recent past have failed. (Jamila Hussain)

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Comments - 9

parakum Thursday, 06 February 2020 09:05 AM

Best thing the UNPers can do is send this man to Coventry.

Chux Thursday, 06 February 2020 09:25 AM

Ranil must know he is now discarded

Jude Thursday, 06 February 2020 09:29 AM

Give a gun to Ranil's hand and ask him to do the honorable thing!!!?? Yeah!

Yankee Dude Thursday, 06 February 2020 09:42 AM

Ranil is a total destructive politician to the UNP . SAD .

Anmanpan Thursday, 06 February 2020 10:18 AM

Oil and water do not mix. If so, keep them separate. So said the wise old monkey.

Adrian Lamb Thursday, 06 February 2020 02:16 PM

Ranil is like Malinga , refusing to go away and give the younger guys a chance

UNP supporter Thursday, 06 February 2020 02:19 PM

We want Ranil to be the leader. Sajith can't even win his own seat. And a joker when he talks

Vajira Thursday, 06 February 2020 02:22 PM

RW will find a way to discard Sajith and takeover the reins of the new coalition when the election nears.Then it will be him and his butterflies again deciding the futures of 99% of UNPers who oppose them and all other constituent party supporters.What a shame.

Nimali Thursday, 06 February 2020 03:07 PM

Sajith as a leader is more disastrous than Ranil. He will distribute the treasury, running all night peeping at houses

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Ranil-Sajith standoff widens despite reconciliation efforts

Comments - 9

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