Opposition MPs threaten to sit independently in Sri Lanka parliament

Several legislators from the main opposition United National Party (UNP) have threatened to sit as independent members in parliament if the party crisis is not resolved soon.

Following the defection of six UNP MPs to the government, 25 UNP legislators signed a letter and handed it over to opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to summon an urgent meeting to discuss the party's future.
UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara told the local media that several UNP MPs including him would sit independently in parliament if the party crisis is not resolved by next week.

"Enough is enough. For years we have been talking about revamping the party and no one is doing anything. This is a never ending problem for all the UNP supporters and members. We urge the leader to have a have a quick and urgent solution," Jayasekara has said.
The UNP has called a meeting on next Tuesday (14) and the meeting is to take place between Wickremasinghe and several UNP members who have been calling for an end to the leadership crisis.
In the letter handed over to Wickremasinghe on Wednesday, the UNP MPs had called for a meeting to take place that very evening, but the request has been rejected by Wickremasinghe. He has suggested the meeting to take place next week.