UNP crisis deepens, dissidents likely to sit in parliament as independent group

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 September 2010, 17:42 GMT]
Twenty five parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday issued ultimatum to their leader Ranil Wickremasinghe till September 22 to address the leadership crisis soon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, said to be the leader of the dissident 25 MPs has told electronic and print media that they would inform the Speaker of parliament of their intention to consider them as an independent group when parliament meets on September 22.

Dissident UNP leader made the threat following the news conference held by Ranil Wickremasinghe Tuesday. Wickremasinghe at the briefing had stated that he would propose a new constitution to the party general assembly that is likely to be held in December this year making way to the youth leaders who would be vested with party responsibilities.

However dissident parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara said that they are not satisfied with the statement by Wickremasinghe. He added a day before parliament convenes on September 22 the dissident group of MPs has to inform the Speaker to consider them as independents.