UNP to amend party constitution

Propose senior leader post:

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The United National Party (UNP) Working Committee which met at the party headquarters ‘Sirikotha’ amidst speculation of a leadership change yesterday, has decided to amend the party constitution and create a new senior leaders post in addition to the existing one.

The UNP media spokesman Gayantha Karunatillake MP said that the Working Committee after lengthy deliberations had decided to appoint an eight member Committee headed by party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera MP to make necessary recommendations, which is to be discussed at a special meeting scheduled for Monday.

In addition to Perera the Committee includes senior UNP’ers such as Tissa Attanayake, S.B. Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Lakshman Kiriella, Lakshman Senevirathne, John Amaratunge and Renuka Herath.

UNP MP Lakshman Senevirathne when contacted said that the intention of bringing in necessary changes to the party constitution was intended at creating an effective mechanism to face future challenges by de-centralising power within the party.

Meanwhile, senior MP Rukman Senanayake too welcomed the move saying that the there was no dissension within the party and the decision to amend party constitution had been arrived with the approval of all members.

However, when questioned as to who would be the senior leader of the party and what would be the fate of it’s incumbent leader Ranil Wickremesinghe several UNP stalwarts contacted by the Daily News remained non committal.

The working committee meeting was also attended by leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. Gayantha Karunathilake MP said that the recommendations of the eight member committee would be taken up for deliberation at the Special Working Committee meeting scheduled for 2.30 pm on Monday.