New leader for UNP soon, RW to step down after party reforms : Ashu

Mr Wickremesinghe had informed that he will resign from the leadership after establishing unity within the party

A new leader will emerge in the UNP soon but present leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will step down only after bringing all members with different ideologies under one umbrella, MP Ashu Marasinghe said yesterday.

Professor Marasinghe who is also a member of the UNP reforms committee told a press conference that Mr Wickremesinghe had informed that he will resign from the leadership after establishing unity within the party.

“A new leader will emerge may be in a week’s time or within a month. However I would state with responsibility that Mr Wickremesinghe will be the leader of UNP today while there could be a new leader tomorrow “MP Marasinghe said.

At the same time he said change in the leadership is immaterial as any one could lead an election campaign while another could be the leader of the party. “It is the case with SLPP as Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader of the party though Gotabaya Rajapaksa had become the President of this country. Likewise Chandrika Kumaratunga was not the leader of SLFP though she became the President of this country” the MP said.

Also he said presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa will be UNP’S Prime Ministerial Candidate and the party’s campaign of the general election will be led by him. “We expect that Mr

Premadasa will come out soon and will begin the campaign from party headquarters Sirikotha”, he said.

Meanwhile UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told few journalists who contacted him over the phone that Mr Wickremesinghe had informed MP Tilak Marapana to submit him a report on how to reform the UNP.

He said this was informed by Mr Wickremesinghe following a suggestion that has been made by some party seniors that party should go for the general election with a new strong leadership.

Sajith Premadasa will be UNP’S Prime Ministerial Candidate and the party’s campaign of the general election will be led by him