The much awaited and crucial United National Party (UNP) convention where the party’s new constitution is expected to be adopted will be held tomorrow at the party headquarters ‘Sirikotha’, from 9 am onwards.
Most party members are looking forward to the approval of the new party constitution which provides for the election of five top officials including the party leader through a secret ballot in the absence of a consensus. The proposed reforms were approved by the working committee earlier.
UNP front-liner Ravi Karunanayake said the convention would legalize what the working committee approved.
Sajith Premadasa another UNP front-liner who agitated for political reforms said that tomorrow would be a day when democracy would be restored in the party.
He said it would be a stepping stone for the party’s revival and rebirth and vowed to continue his struggle to get voting rights for the party’s local council members in the election of top officials.
Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga said 55 members would be brought from each electorate for the convention.
Meanwhile UNP Kurunegala district parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera said every effort would be made to revive the party which had suffered because of the crossover of many MPs, provincial councillors and Pradeshiya Sabha members.
He said the party would be changed within four months of the convention.
According to the present UNP Constitution, the party leader is elected for life and on that basis Ranil Wickremesinghe has held the post since 1994.
Meanwhile UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake yesterday said court’s refusal to grant an enjoining order preventing the party’s convention tomorrow was a defeat of a conspiracy by certain forces backed by opponents of the party.
‘This attempt was made to stop the UNP from brining about unity in the party,” he said.
In Matara, the Leaders of Opposition of Urban Councils and the Pradeshya Sabhas and several leading UNP supporters in the Matara District met yesterday to pledge support to Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa to be the leader of the UNP.
The PS severely criticized UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and said that they would bring about a Premadasa Era again
