Karu enters UNP leadership fray

Former Speaker and senior United National Party (UNP) member Karu Jayasuriya yesterday stated that he was ready to take up the challenge of party leader. 

The UNP Working Committee is to meet this afternoon and the leadership topic will likely be discussed, UNP Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara PC told the Daily FT. 

The move comes days after the UNP suffered an unprecedented defeated at the General Elections, losing all electoral seats it ran for and left with only one National List seat, which is has been left unoccupied due to internal disputes on who should represent the party in Parliament. 

The longstanding battle for change in the UNP leadership saw former Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa form the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) which won 57 seats at the election, establishing the young party as the main Opposition in Parliament. 

The UNP proceeded to suspend the membership of nearly 100 UNP members who sort nominations from the SJB alliance and those who aided it. However, the SJB maintains that the alliance was formed on the authorisation of the UNP Working Committee. 

Jayasuriya has turned down requests by several religious leaders and senior UNP members to take over the party leadership on several occasions leading up to the Presidential Elections of 2019 and the General Elections held earlier this month. He is viewed by some UNP members as a moderate leader with the backing of all communities. The veteran politician had on many occasions attempted to reconcile the two main factions within the UNP, but failed.    

Issuing a press release, Jayasuriya stated that he is ready to accept the challenge party leadership. Jayasuriya who will turn 80 next month has stated that he has informed the UNP leadership and senior party members of his decision. 

“I have notified the party leadership and senior members that having carefully considered the disarray the party is currently in, and what is best for the nation and the requests made of me by many. That I can take up the challenge of being the party leader,” Jayasuriya said. 

He stressed that the UNP needed to enact a range of reforms and restructure the party, taking in to account the needs and the voice of the voters. “I trust that with timely reforms aimed at restructuring the party while heading the voice and needs of our supporters and voters, we can rebuild the UNP again,” Jayasuriya stated.

However, responding to a question by Daily FT, UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the party is yet to be officially notified of the former Speaker’s stance. 

“We can always discuss any leadership related issue that will be brought up at the Working Committee,” Kariyawasam said, pointing out that he did not expect those who had indicated an interest in taking over leadership to submit proposal regarding reviving the UNP at today’s meeting.  

The UNP previously stated that longstanding party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked those interested in taking the leadership role to submit their proposals to revive the party at the next Working Committee meeting. 

“No SJB member will take part in today’s UNP Working Committee meeting,” SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said. Responding to a question, Bandara opined that Karu Jayasuriya was a veteran politician and a moderate person, who may make a good interim leader for the UNP.  (AF)