Sri Lanka's major opposition in turmoil again as Premadasa facing disciplinary action

Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) is in turmoil again with conflicts brewing among its senior party members ahead of the approaching local government elections.

Party sources say that the leader of the party, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe will initiate disciplinary action against the leadership contender Hambantota District parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa.

Premadasa is to be asked to show cause for several controversial statements he made to media and also at meetings at the next executive committee meeting of the UNP scheduled to be held in the beginning of March.

Meanwhile, UNP sources further said that the party leader will also call for a disciplinary investigation against MP Premadasa based on a complaint made by Colombo district MP Ravi Karunanayaka.

Karunanayaka has filed a disciplinary complaint against Premadasa alleging that Premadasa had verbally abused him at the National Nomination Committee meeting on January 22.

The row has reportedly occurred over the exclusion of prospective candidates in the nomination lists for Beliatta and Lunugamvehera in the Hambantota district.

However, member of the UNP disciplinary committee and parliamentarian Gamini Jayawickrama Perera has said the complaint would be reviewed after the local government elections in March.

The charismatic leadership contender has recently vowed to grab the party leadership by April.

According to the party's new Constitution adapted on December 12, 2010, new office bearers have to be appointed within 120 days from the ratification of the party reforms. The 120-days period lapses on April 12 this year.

Present leadership under Ranil Wickremasinghe has come under criticism from party members after the party's continual loss at successive elections. Premadasa has emerged as the main contender to lead the weakened party.