2 September 2020 10:02 pm
With the UNP working Committee which would decide on the party’s future is expected to be held over the next weekend, several associations affiliated to the party and several other organizations have called for the appointment of Ruwan Wijewardene as the new leader.
The United University Teachers' Union said they endorse the appointment of Mr. Wijewardene as the new leader of the UNP.
President of the Union Prof. T. S. M. Gunaratne told a press conference that another group which does not belong to UNP had issued a false statement inserting the names of some university dons calling for the appointment of former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as the leader without their knowledge. “Around 22 dons whose name appeared in the statement which was circulated in the social media had stated that they were not aware of any statement which called the appointment of Mr. Jayasuriya as the leader,” Prof. Gunaratne said.
Treasurer of the Union, Prof. Emeritus Peradeniya University M. O. A. de Soysa said they will endorse Ruwan Wijewardene as the party leader. “Mr. Wijewardene has all the necessary qualifications to become the leader of UNP given his family background and his qualities such as the humbleness and simplicity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Gampaha District UNP Provincial Council members collective and few local government members in the District have also called for the appointment of Mr. Wijewardene as the leader.
In the meantime, another group of UNPers have called for the appointment of Mr. Jayasuriya as the leader. These include a group of University dons, a few monks who made an open request.(Yohan Perera and Tilakaratne Dissanayake)