Appointment of CPC Opposition Leader:

Chairman rejects UNP Leader, General Secretary’s nomination

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy South Group Correspondent

Central Provincial Council (CPC) Chairman Saliya Dissanayake rejected the nomination by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake to appoint UNP Provincial Councillor K.K. Piyadasa as Leader of the Opposition of the Central Provincial Council when the Council met at the Pallekelle Provincial Council Complex yesterday.

Chairman Saliya Dissanayake said that two separate letters had been sent to CPC Secretary by these two UNP officials. He is not obliged to act on these letters and will not entertain such letters in the future.

Dissanayake further said that the Leader of the Opposition is elected by a popular vote by the Members of the Council and this should be the produce and not act on letters issued by party officials.

The vacancy for the Leader of Opposition in the CPC arose when S.B. Dissanayake resigned from the position and Wasantha Aluvihare who succeeded him has now entered Parliament. CPC Chairman Saliya Dissanayake said that Councillor K.K. Piyadasa could not be appointed as CPC Opposition Leader as there has been some Opposition in the UNP ranks. Therefore, there has to be vote on the matter.

Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said there has been a deadlock in this issue. The Opposition should be given an opportunity to appoint the Leader of the Opposition.

Since the UPFA commands the majority in this Provincial Council, it is the nominee of the ruling party who will get elected as the Leader of the Opposition also. This is not fair, he said.