Working Committee of Sri Lanka's main opposition to meet again today to resolve leadership crisis

The Working Committee of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) is to meet against today, for the third consecutive day, to resolve the leadership crisis.

The Working Committee is to meet at the party headquarters Sirikotha at 4pm to finalize the appointments to the party according to the new party constitution.

UNP sources told ColomboPage that several senior members had proposed that two deputy leadership posts be created in the party and to appoint UNP Hambantota District parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa as a deputy leader.

The proposal was made by party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and Kabir Hashim.

However, yesterday's Working Committee meeting ended without any decision being made towards the resolution of the leadership crisis.

Premadasa meanwhile has requested for two days to make a final decision, but was pressured by some Working Committee members to inform of his stance at today's meeting.

Party Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has reiterated that he would not step down from the leadership and was ready to face a vote.

Under Wickremasinghe's leadership the party has lost every election held for the last ten years.