UNP to defer deputy leader appointment again? 

The UNP’s Working Committee is likely to defer the appointment of the party’s deputy leader further, due to speculation that a party heavyweight may cross over to the Government soon, Daily FT learns.

Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and seniors Joseph Michael Perera and Jayawickrema Perera met with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last morning and urged him to defer the appointment that could give the MP rumoured to be crossing over leverage with the Government, informed sources said.

An appointment of four deputy leaders was expected to be made by the UNP Working Committee today, during a meeting scheduled to be held at 4 p.m. Lakshman Kiriella, Kabir Hashim, Sajith Premadasa and Ravi Karunanayake were tipped to be given the co-deputy leader appointments.

Wickremesinghe has been reluctant to reappoint Premadasa deputy leader, after an amendment to the party’s constitution late last year that extended his term as leader for six years and gave him sweeping powers to reappoint all other party office bearers, including the deputy leader on an annual basis.