29 November 2019 03:36 am
Discussions have commenced with regard to resolving the matter relating to the Opposition Leader’s post and the UNP leadership, several party seniors including General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Thalatha Athukorala said yesterday.
They informed the joint press conference held yesterday that these matters will be decided upon without delay.
“There is no crisis in the party, but we will discuss the matter and arrive at decisions shortly,” Mr. Madumma Bandara said, following a statement made by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that the party should discuss and come to a final agreement on the issue of the Opposition Leader.
The Speaker’s office earlier said it had received a letter signed by 57 UNP MPs where they have requested to appoint former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of Opposition.
“The UNP should discuss the matter as the largest party in the opposition and inform the Speaker about the final decision so that he could make an announcement during the next sitting day of Parliament as per the tradition,” a statement from the Speaker’s office said. (Yohan Perera)