Rehan Jayawickrama removed from Weligama UC chairmanship

By Yohan Perera   

Former minister and Northwestern Province Governor the late Montague Jayawickrama’s grandson Rehan Jayawickrama who has been removed from his position as the chairman of Weligama Urban Council yesterday called for the UNP leadership to hand over the party to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa or to go for the second option of appointing former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to the leadership

Mr. Jayawickrama who is also a grandson of former State Minister for Defence Ranjan Wijeratne told a press conference that it is not too late for the current party leadership to go for any of the available option.   
“I have received a letter by the Matara District Returning Officer stating that I have been removed from the Chairmanship of Weligama Urban Council. Prior to this, I received a letter from UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam informing me that I have been expelled from the UNP. I would like to remind Mr. Kariyawasam that he is bound to look after the interests of the party. Therefore, I request him to convene the working committee of the party and choose a new leader in a secret ballot,” Mr.Jayawickrama said.   

“I am making these requests as I want the elephant to survive as I come from a family of long-standing UNPers. Late Minister Montague Jayawickrama was my paternal grandfather and late Minister Ranjan Wijeratne was my maternal grandfather. Both of them served the UNP for a long time,” he added.   .