25.8.2008
Another group of ‘latecomers’ to join the government
The struggle to change the leadership of the United National
Party (UNP) came to surface again with fresh vigor from
another group of MPs, just after the Provincial Council
elections in North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.
The
group of MPs are to meet on 26th Aug to discuss the future
programme. They are to urge Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe not
only to resign from the post of the party leader but also
from the Opposition Leadership. A UNP frontline leader
said to Lanka-e-News that they would intensify the struggle
to oust the leader expecting early results. He said that
the group would meet the leader and say to him to resign
without further letting to deteriorate the party since
he has no further interest or luck to lead the party.
He said this appeal is made by not only his group but
by all the MPs sans one or two.
He said that seven or eight MPs were supporting the leader
but they also joined his group after the Provincial Council
polls. He said that the party re-structuring has also
not ended. The MP said that he had no idea about the party
future after the polls, stressing that the group of MPs
who are seeking party restructuring worked hard for the
party in the election campaign.
He
expected that the party leader would resign with honor
and alternative measures would be initiated to oust him
otherwise.
Meanwhile, a discussion was underway to take four UNP
MPs to the government. The President stated after the
election victory that he would reiterate the 2005 Presidential
appeal to join regardless party differences to build a
new country. He further said that the doors were open
to the latecomers as well.
UNP
internal sources said that former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya
led a struggle for party restructuring but left the party
with 17 others since his wish was not fulfilled. Several
others who rejected to join them and obtain Ministerial
portfolios then are to join the government in the coming
few weeks.
LeN