Ranil To Transfer Powers To UNP Leadership Board

October 7, 2013 

The UNP Working Committee has decided to appoint a Leadership Board to make decisions on the party’s future course of action.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed that former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya be appointed to head the new Board.

A decision has also been made based on an proposal by UNP MP Kabir Hashim that Jayasuriya be invited to accept membership in the Working Committee

The board will report to the Party’s Working Committee.

UNP MP Sajith Premadasa who is leading the challenge against Wickremesinghe’s leadership has requested time from the Working Committee to mull over the new restructuring proposals.

However Working Committee members had urged him to make a spot decision since the entire UNP was hoping for a decision from them today.

Premadasa asked for time to “consult” with PC members and other UNP supporters.

However Wickremesinghe intervened and said the Working Committee had put proposals to him and he had decided on the spot despite that. “I am the one who will give up some of my powers as leader, so I should be the one with the problem,” Wickremesinghe said.

Thus coerced, Premadasa had ultimately agreed. WIckremesinghe will take a step back and allow the new Board to make decisions on the party’s future. Some of the powers accrued to the UNP Leader will be transferred to the new board.

Wickremesinghe, Premadasa and Jayasuriya are to meet later this week to discuss the formula on which the new board will operate.