Crucial discussions on revising the UNP party Constitution to make it ‘more democratic’ are expected shortly in the midst of a leadership crisis and the count down to a crucial election begins.
UNP Parliamentarian and Former Minister Eran Wickremaratne said some discussions on the constitutional changes that are required to the present UNP Constitution are expected in the coming days after which a new leadership will take over.
“We expect all of this to be completed, before the end of the month,” he said.
Wickremaratne said, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremsinghe has already indicated he was stepping down and there may be an election to select the next Leader of the party.
Former Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa has pointed out that the party Constitution needs to be democratized and had expressed his desire to be elected rather than being nominated as the next Leader.
At a crucial UNP parliamentary group meeting last week,the UNP settled the Opposition Leader dispute and nominated Sajith Premadasa to the post. His loyalists have demanded that the party must go for elections under Premadasa’s leadership while some party seniors are opposed to this call. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s name has also figured in the Leadership battle.
Ranil Wickremsinghe has been the leader of the party since 1994.