The Parliamentary Group meeting of the United National Party (UNP) held at Sirikotha this evening (16) ended without reaching a decision on the party leadership.
The meeting was held under the patronage of the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today to decide on the future of the party leadership.
Various suggestions regarding the UNP leadership have been presented. Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed a leadership council. However, it is reported that a majority of parliamentarians, who wants Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to lead the party, opposes the idea.
The group of MPs backing Opposition Leader demands that Premadasa should be made party leader.
According to a MP, who supports Sajith Premadasa, the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe abruptly adjourned the meeting and walked out as the majority asked for a vote on the party leadership. General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has also followed Wickremesinghe and left the meeting.
However the others have stayed back and took an unofficial vote on a proposal to make Premadasa party leader and 52 MPs out of the 77 MPs who were present have voted in favor and no one against, according to the MP.
Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya are due to meet next week to try and come to a final decision and resolve the dispute, MP Navin Dissanayake said.
