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Sajith wants internal elections

29 April 2010 09:40 am - 73     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UNP Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa has proposed to UNP Leader Ranil Wickramasingha that internal elections should be held within the party to elect suitable persons for the party’s senior posts at the national level, informed sources said.

Premadasa made this proposal when he met Wickremesinghe along with Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunge and Kegalle District MP Kabir Hashim at Cambridge Terrace today.

The party had also discussed on how to change the party’s vision to appeal the common man. (YP)


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  Comments - 73

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  • Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:48 PM

    This is a very good proposal. This is democracy. Please implement it.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:53 PM

    Sajith has rightly suggested internal elections, for all posts in the UNP. Also important is a vision based on grassroot aspirations. Go Sajith go!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 07:53 PM

    A good suggestion, but it should be by way of 'secret ballot.'

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 05:52 PM

    Sajith, resolve Mano Ganesan issue. We are Hurt. DPF stood with you during UNP's ups and downs. -Tamil Lankan

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 05:03 PM

    Sajith is the only one capable of leading the UNP to victory, its about time the unp sleepy leaders realized this

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 04:09 PM

    Well said,I also agree with your comment.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:59 PM

    Sajith is a good bet , but lets not have elections for the sake of elections

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:59 PM

    We must also remember that Ranil never aspired to be PM when JR was president. He was virtually catapulted into this position by the assassination of Premadasa. He also stood by premadasa altho other senior ministers tried to impeach him. I hope Sajith remembers this.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:55 PM

    RANIL SHOULD NOT STEP DOWN - BUT GROOM sAJITH TO TAKE OVER - JUST AS JRJ GROOMED LALITH AND GAMINI, TO TAKE OVER. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE KILLED.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:53 PM

    I dont think Ranil should be ousted. Would young Sajith have agreed if his father was in Ranil's shoes. Remember the impeachment motion by some of the most senior members - and one minister betrayed them all. SO RANIL SHOULD STAY. IF HE WERE TO GO, WHO WOULD GET THE VOTES IN COLOMBO? FONSEKA, HANDUNETTI, WEERAWANSA!

    Friday, 30 April 2010 01:07 AM

    Ranil be aware " iron rod is eaten away by its own rust"

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:27 PM

    Agreed, at the rate it is going, RAnil will need to make sure he had grand children to challenge NAmal's sibblings

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:25 PM

    In a way you are right, it is the Colombo elite who keep voting for Ranil, based on this, he is the best candidate for the Colombo Municipality Mayorship. On the role of advising behind the scenes, I dont agree, as to advise you need a person with brains, sadly Ranil hasn't any.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:22 PM

    Ramya, I am sorry to say this, Ranil has "No Brains", If he had any brains, UNP will not be in such a desparate state.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:15 PM

    Yes, he must go home. But NO, Sajith should not be the leader of the UNP. He is the biggest opportunist in the party. He did not move a finger to help the party at the Pres. Elections.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 01:00 PM

    As a member of UNP what has this guy Sajith done to UNP or country? He is living the Colombo 7 life and contesting in Hambantota, Sajith should have united the UNP as a member if he wants to become leader. Only during the election time can we hear his voice. Sajith putha first you show your leadership qualities and unite the party as a member.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:52 PM

    He is the obvious choice for UNP. He showed his metal none other place than in the stronghold of Rajapakshas, Hambantota District. He managed to retain the same level of support for UNP in Hambantota despite all effort by the Government to make a huge victory there.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:50 PM

    Ranil is a selfish Leader, no humer does not understand what ordinary people of this country need. How can Ranil keep country together when the guy cant keep his own members together. it is easy to climbed the ladder but its difficult to remain there unlesss you know where you are. We all had wittnessed that in 2004.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:29 PM

    Sajith you are the suitable for leader. step down Ranil. now enough is enough.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 05:08 AM

    sajith remember its ranil who spoke for your father when he was house arrested by JR in 1987 help a leader who was with your father at that time

    Friday, 30 April 2010 10:12 PM

    Having an amateur in politics, as 'leader,' will be detrimental to the party.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 10:10 AM

    The UNP is in this state because of Premadasa"s pahara veda. He ruined the UNP by getting rid of intellectuals like, Lalith, Gamini and others. Sajith can give nothing. He is only good for Hambantota. Premadasa and family can do nothing other than accumulating their own wealth.I agree with comments from ,Idroos,ajshanmugaraj and Aruna. that President premadasa ruined the UNP. Ranil is still the best choice for UNP.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 09:41 AM

    Reforms and the selection of a leader that can deliver hopes, dreams of prosperity with the ability to transform them into reality has become the prerogative for the Grand Old party. In my opinion, only the elected representatives to the Parliament of Sri Lanka have the right to choose, since the same person selected will also be the leader of the opposition. However, to make the process more interesting and also to have the principles and character of the candidates tested, if there are more than two candidates, the grass-root UNP organizations could vote to bring the contenders down to two for the party MP’s selection.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 08:14 AM

    It is not because of UNP leader Ranil why they lost at the election UNP ers are politically blind.If they formed a coaliation with DNA they would have secured more seats rather than giving into UPFA

    Friday, 30 April 2010 08:13 AM

    Time for change
    Good luck Sajith
    Tony

    Friday, 30 April 2010 07:13 AM

    Sajith is the way forward. Ranil for the sake of the country and party, please..please..please go home.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 06:59 AM

    Rohan, I agree with U. UNP need a strategic leadership who can bring UNP voters to the polling booth before making a government.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 06:28 AM

    There should be nothing personal here be it Ranil, Sajith or whoever. The most capable person to lead the party to victory at the next elections should be made leader of the UNP. Of course Ranil has had many a chance but has failed miserably. So we need a new leader. Let the UNP decide who it should be.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:12 PM

    First of all, admit in public that your dad is responsible for the downfall of UNP. You guys did whatever you want when in the power. If you need leadership, be patient, it will come eventually, if you deserve it. Do not try to debit everything into Mr. Wicremasinghe’s account. You guys must also have a stake of the party’s recent failures. According to my view, idiot of your calibre is not suitable to govern this country. To me "Mahinda" is better than you. You are just a hard worker, not a smart worker.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 05:00 AM

    you fly a kite. it's because people like you RW is leading without any success

    Friday, 30 April 2010 04:50 AM

    Ranil will be ejected

    Friday, 30 April 2010 04:49 AM

    Ranil's only virtue is that he is very honest.He has no appeal amongst the common masses.Due to his arrogant style the UNP has lost almost all elections and the voter base is being eroded.If he goes on that will be the end of the great political party.Please hand over to Sajith who has the backing of the ordinary citizens of this country.Ranil could continue as the leader of the opposition and Sajith the part leader

    Friday, 30 April 2010 04:35 AM

    The future of the UNP lies in the hands of Sajith, Ruwan etc So its high time Ranil and his senior comrades realize this and make a phased change over of the leadership

    Friday, 30 April 2010 04:27 AM

    His father had ruined the party by removing GD & LA after winning the presidency & helped the opposition to come to power in 1994. It could have been his father's reckless speeches that might have caused , Mrs Indira Ghandi to forcibly air drop food aid to people in Jaffna.
    Junior may do the same to the educated politicians of the party in case if, he becomes a leader.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 03:19 AM

    This is what I proposed yesterday in this column

    Friday, 30 April 2010 02:49 AM

    What a tragic situation. This would be conceded the 'Grand old party' of Sri Lanka politics. How ever in time and with degradation of personal in politics we have now scraped the barrel. This political party needs a complete overhaul. New thinking from outside the framework. Persons with ethics and a inner desire to serve the country need to found. This may sound impossible but it can be done. Build a inner core and then it will produce fruit. Sajith along with Ranil and Karu and others must join force on a equal platform and start the build. The leader must evolve not be taken for granted. No one person has the birth right to such a position.

    Friday, 30 April 2010 01:30 AM

    Sajith wants to sell the party wholesale to MR

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:11 AM

    Ranil can be leader of opposition and MR SAJITH PREMADASA leader of the UNP,until he wins the next election and brings the UNP to rule our country.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:26 AM

    Ranil's voter-base is limited to professionals in Colombo. He has proved several times over that he cannot reach the majority. That's why many UNPeers stayed at home without voting. We need Ranil, but he should not be the face of the UNP -- he should play a behind-the-scenes role like Sonia Gandhi.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:26 AM

    its good move...

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:22 AM

    Young man, you are challenging the owner of UNP. Remember you are only a tenant. Joly well pay the dues and live along with the others.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:20 AM

    sajith,this is the time for you to get the leadership in the UNP. otherwise UNP will be the opposition forever.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:19 AM

    Good move Sajith! it is high time Ranil W stooges are sent home.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:14 AM

    100% agreed

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:13 AM

    !Now every one is hard on Sajith's heels! He too has a few skeletons in the family cupboard!Like the Mulgirigala painting, fathers nepotism in promoting Flowers through Narita air port.These little pointers could be experiences he should not repeat, if he wants to be a non controversial leader, who genuinely wants to lift the UNP from the present abyss.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:12 AM

    An election is nothing more than the advanced auction of stolen goods.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:28 AM

    Alas!!! another election for Ranil to lose

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:07 AM

    Good move, Mr. Ranil please do it if you want to protect the remaining members

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:06 AM

    If Ranil remains as the leader of UNP, UNP will be the opposition for ever! Suba Anagathayak!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:59 AM

    Sajith, it is high time that you take "the bull by the horn" and managed it to the next victory. I was waiting for you to say this. Brother, you have got a staunch ally and a strategist.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:59 AM

    that will never work when ranil is there

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:58 AM

    Everyone should support Ranil. There is no other person to lead. If someone else is elected as a leader sure Govt will get 2/3 majority. Inside UNP there are members working for Govt. So don't allow them to win.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:57 AM

    Hope that kind of democracy prevails in UNP!. Sajith may have forgotten that his late father would not have fancied this kind of notions at the time of impeachment crisis! All good when the pie is there for eating! Hope he too will remember these lessons one day, when his time comes to depart! We Sri lankans have very short memories and as soon as the taste buds get adjusted he may also forget how he was propelled to the hot seat.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:55 AM

    Ranil please go home!!!!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:49 AM

    No doubts! You will and you deserve it!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:12 AM

    Ranil is too much of a gentleman for the Sri Lanka Political Scene today. As 'willows' suggests, he should be the Senior Advisor and allow Sajith to takeover the leadership of the party. Sajith, Thank God! has the father's capability of harnessing the people to help others, and he would be a good Prime Minister. But then again, once people are in power.............................

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 12:04 PM

    I hope that Ranil has the good grace to resign and not stand for the suggested internal election. Otherwise Ranil may win at the party level but the sad story is the UNP has no chance at national level unless the leadership changes.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:52 AM

    So agree with sree. Ranil is the only man who can feel the under covered things going on with current mafia politics. He knew Rukman Senanayaka is a govt spy. He didn't elect them. He knew Mano Ganeshan is gonna join with govt after obtaining another national list seat from UNP ticket, he didn't appoint him. He knew Vajira Abewardana was ready to jump. He informed the party people in Galle about that. Vajira lost. Sajith never worked for the party. He was not a team player. When people like Ravi Karunanayaka , Sujeewa Senasingha etc poeple directly facing the threats to the party , Sajith stayed at Hambanthota as if he is not UNP. If anyone other than Ranil become the opposition leader or UNP leader, Govt will get more than 2/3.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:42 AM

    UNP is not Ranil's heritage. It is the heritage of all patriotic Sri Lankans..... We want Sajit... now.... Ranil go home.....

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:36 AM

    Good idea Mr.Sajith

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:33 AM

    Ranil is very weak for an opposition leader and has let down the country & party by his timid ways and should make way for Sajit Premadasa to lead the party. That is the only way the UNP could come back to power in the near future.I dont think he is helping the party by clinging on to power despite his poor record in recent elections.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:29 AM

    internal election should be held to select the party leadership as well Ranil can play a vital role as adviser not as a party leader . Leadership sheet should be given to some body who can drive the party. UNP should focous on ground level better than ever apparently they have lost the grassroot.I still want ranil to be in the party but not as a leader. ranil is a person who has strenths so party should try to gain from his strenth forget his weaknes

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:25 AM

    so the world record level is going to increase by one more??

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:24 AM

    in your dreams!!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 09:46 AM

    They will elect Ranil!

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:06 AM

    Sajith has proved in Hambantota that he is a capable statesman who can take the leadership and he truly deserves it.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:04 AM

    yes do it ....we need some change in UNP

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:02 AM

    Primary elections style of US, supervised by the state and foreign monitors; not a manipulated one like what usually happens in Sri Lanka.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 11:00 AM

    What rubbish! They have already won, if you have not already noticed. Wake up and smell the coffee...Ranil is a loser and can never win anything except maybe foreign funding. Sajith will appeal to the masses and is a lot more capable than Ranil the old man.

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:42 AM

    as suggested sajith is the best for UNP, even if Ranil loses, he should remain as the Senior Advisor - no one can challenge him in that position???

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:39 AM

    Sajith wil get the support from all ex UNPers too. He is the ideal or the Job

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:35 AM

    I agree, but nothing will happen

    Thursday, 29 April 2010 10:35 AM

    ranil has a good brain. But heart is weak.


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