Special team to spearhead UNP reforms

The UNP’s Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group have decided to appoint a special political committee with full powers to make all the decisions of the party.

Accordingly, the party, at the meeting of the Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group held on Saturday at Temple Trees, has elected a 12-member politburo to finalise internal reforms and restructure the party and take forward action.

Minister Gayantha Karunathilake told the media after the meeting that the politburo recommended new party office-bearers and decided on the future actions of the party.

The new politburo will comprise 12 parliamentarians, 10 of whom were elected by a secret ballot by the UNP Working Committee and Parliamentary Group.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Navin Dissanayake, Gayantha Karunathilake, Harin Fernando, and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, State Ministers Ruwan Wijewardene, Eran Wickramaratne and Ajith P. Perera, Deputy Minister J.C. Alawathuwala and Members of Parliament Nalin Bandara and Asoka Priyantha comprise the Special Political Council.

The two UNP deputy leaders Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa were appointed to the 12-member committee as ex officio members.

The new leadership committee is expected to finalise party reforms by 30 April.

The current UNP office-bearers will continue in office until the end of April, until the politburo recommends a set of new officials be elected by the Working Committee.

According to views and suggestions received for the reorganisation of the party, actions to be taken and implemented will be informed to the Working Committee and parliamentary group in the future.

Discussions have also been held in a number of areas including the development and economic activities of the country at Saturday’s meeting. Attention was focused on the decisions that should be taken as a government. (Colombo Page)

UNP formally requests President to remove minsters who voted for NCM against PM

The United National Party (UNP), the majority party of Sri Lanka’s Unity Government, has formally requested President Maithripala Sirisena to remove the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ministers who voted for the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said the UNP had requested the President to remove the 15 ministers and the Deputy Speaker, who voted for the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister, from their posts since keeping them in the Government would be a problem.

This decision was conveyed to the President when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and senior UNP ministers, including Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Minister Kariyawasam, met with the President last night at the President’s official residence.

The President has said that a decision would be taken after the meeting of the SLFP Central Committee tomorrow.

Minister Kariyawasam told a media conference that during the meeting an agreement was reached for a Cabinet reshuffle to take place before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

The Education Minister said the President and the Prime Minister at length discussed issues regarding future political affairs.