Ranil urged to step down following latest defeat

Vijayani Edirisinghe

Colombo: Many UNP MPs have urged leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to give up the party leadership, at a special meeting held on Monday, party sources said.

They have also agreed to pursue legal action if Wickremesinghe does not step down voluntarily. They will keep the party membership informed of all these moves and are giving Wickremesinghe 14 days to announce his move, the sources said.

They have pointed out that the NCP and Sabaragamuwa defeat was the 18th in a row under the leadership of Wickremesinghe. They have attributed the defeat to Wickremesinghe's poor leadership. This issue is likely to be taken up at the party's Ex-Co meeting due to be held tomorrow. The leader will explain his position on this matter, a party source said.

The group pointed out that there is a vast decline in the UNP due to leadership problems. Only a very few MPs still insist that Wickremesinghe should continue as the leader, the sources added.