Wickremasinghe retains UNP leadership

[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 March 2011, 11:31 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe has retained his leadership in the main opposition United National Party (UNP) and his contender Sajith Premadasa accepted a post of Co- Deputy Leader. Both agreed to amicably settle the dispute over the leadership that had been dragging for over several months at the party’s working committee that met on Wednesday evening at Sri Kotha, party headquarters.

The Working Committee unanimously decided to elect Ranil Wickremasinghe as its leader again and elected Karu Jayasuriya and Sajith Premadasa as C-Deputy Leaders. Sajith Premadasa would be in charge organizing the party at grass root level. Tissa Attanayake will continue as the General Secretary and Senarath Kapukottuwa as Treasurer.

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapakse Thursday morning telephoned Ranil Wickremasinghe and expressed his wishes for his 62nd birthday that falls on Thursday (March 24) and for his re-election as party leader on Wednesday, media sources said.