Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Sunday Sep 22, 2024
Friday, 6 December 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The United National Party (UNP) yesterday wrote to Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, nominating former Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa for the position of Opposition Leader.
The letter, sent by UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, called on the Speaker to appoint Premadasa as the Opposition Leader, and notified that the decision was taken at the UNP parliamentary group meeting, held yesterday at the party headquarters.
The Opposition Leader position was much debated during the last few weeks after the Presidential Elections, with several UNP MPs calling for the position to be given to the UNP presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa. UNP parliamentarians maintained that the decision will be made democratically. UNP parliamentarian Dr. Harsha De Silva took to Twitter, stating that Premadasa’s name had been proposed by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and seconded unanimously for the position.
“@sajithpremadasa proposed by @RW_UNP n seconded unanimously by all @officialunp MPs for t position of Opposition Leader of #SriLanka parliament. He has accepted it upon official communication to Speaker by Akila V Gen Sec. Next is party leadership; democratically.” he tweeted.
UNP parliamentarian Eran Wickremeratne also took to Twitter, claiming that the party is ready to continue the journey under Premadasa’s leadership. “Following consultations with the @officialunp parliamentary group, @RW_UNP named @sajithpremadasa the Opposition Leader. We look forward to serving the next few months in opposition under his guidance, continuing our journey #ForwardTogether.” he said.
Party sources told the Daily FT that the Party Leader position will be decided later. However, Dr. De Silva posting on Twitter further stated that the process of selecting a future party leader will start next week, emphasising that they have been attempting to democratise the party for years.
“Letter sent to speaker @KaruOnline. Discussion will begin on Monday on the modalities for @sajithpremadasa to become @officialunp Leader. It must happen democratically; anyone is free to run against him. We WILL democratize the @officialunp; what we struggled for years.” De Silva tweeted, indicating that the party leadership issue is yet unresolved.
