Dec 26, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian for Hambantota District Sajith Premadasa is to meet the current UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe this week to inform his intention to run for the party leadership. Ending weeks of speculation Premadasa along with the pro-reforms group in the UNP has arrived at the decision to run for the party leadership on last Thursday (23) during a group's meeting.
Following the meeting the group together with Premadasa has decided that he should inform party leader of his intentions to run for the UNP leadership.
The new Constitution of the party states that appointments to five key posts including the party leadership should be made within 120 days after the Constitution comes into effect.
Secretary of the UNP Management Committee, Bodhi Ranasinghe has told the media that Wickremasinghe would be given the senior leader's post if he was willing to accept it.
Premadasa had summoned party professionals, Provincial Council, and Pradeshiya Sabha members last week to hear their ideas. More than 95% had wanted Premadasa to take up the leadership before the next local government election. The remaining members have asked him to be the deputy leader of the party until end 2011.
Ranasinghe has said that three senior party members will accompany Premadasa to meet the party leader.
"Victory for the UNP is uppermost in my mind, and that will be the main objective, and that will percolate down, as far as my other subsidiary decisions are concerned. We are working towards victory for both our party cadres, and the people of the country as a whole. Not merely through words but by deeds," Premadasa wrote on his Facebook page.
Present leadership under Ranil Wickremasinghe has come under severe criticism from party members after his party's continual loss of successive elections.
Colombopage
