Karu to chair Political Affairs Committee and run day to day activities at Sirikotha
There had been allegedly deals within deals prior to the final compromise at the heated UNP meeting on Monday to decide the future leadership direction of the main Opposition.
Insiders claimed that one of the key activists Sajith Premadasa had met with leader Ranil Wickremesinghe prior to the main meeting which some saw as a compromising gesture. An offshoot of such a meeting was John Amaratunga proposing an additional leadership post and recommending Sajith at which point Ravi Karunanayake had suggested that S.B. Dissanayake qualifies for any new position within the party.
The original proposal was shot down after which a possible vote for the new leadership structure and assigning of respective duties was looming. At this point, Karu Jayasuriya had recommended that the party must avoid a vote which would tantamount to further divisions within.
Sources said that saner counsel prevailed thereafter leading to Wickremesinghe remaining as leader but key duties such as chairing the catalyst Political Affairs Committee and day to day administration being vested with deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya.
When contacted Jayasuriya said that the first meeting of Political Affairs Committee under his chairmanship will be convened shortly. He also expressed confidence that he will do his best to reinvigorate the UNP with greater unity and success.
