UNP undecided on number of deputy leaders

26 February 2013 02:23 am

United National Party (UNP) seniors including Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will meet on March 4 to decide on the post of deputy leader.

Daily Mirror learns that some of the party seniors including Chairman Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Joseph Michael Perera and Amara Piyasiri Ratnayake are of the opinion that there should be only one deputy leader instead of several.

According to reports the party was planning on appointing four deputy leaders with Lakshman Kiriella, Kabir Hashim, Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa tipped to be appointed as deputy leaders.

Mr. Wickremesinghe held the view that four deputy leaders should be selected from among those who genuinely worked for the party with one of the deputy leaders tasked to attract the Buddhist vote, which the party had lost in the recent past.

When contacted by Daily Mirror, UNP assistant leader Joseph Michael Perera confirmed that party seniors would meet on March 4. But he said he was not aware whether the matters regarding a deputy leader would be taken up at the meeting.

He said a decision on the post of deputy leader was put off as some members were against appointing several deputy leaders.

Ms. Ratnayake also confirmed she would attend the meeting where she said several key issues would be discussed. But she too stopped short of stating whether matters regarding a deputy leader would be discussed at the meeting. (YP)