UNP to curtail power of front-liners

Suraj A. Bandara

According to the on-going party reform proposals, the UNP will curtail the power of its front-liners to some extent leaving room for juniors to enter the leadership positions at any time, UNP party sources said.

UNP media spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleke told the Daily News that party took a decision to restrict Working Committee members up to 86 out of whom 66 members will be elected representing all districts while the other 20 members will be selected by the Party Leader at his discretion.

Certain young representatives asked for a drastic change in the party structure after a string of defeats at elections held over the years and questioned the effectiveness of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the leader.

They were keen on measures to take the party to a winning position.

The Reforms Committee handed over its final report to the Working Committee and Parliamentary group two weeks ago.

The party is gathering proposals from all levels of UNP representatives to finalize the final report that will be ratified at the UNP July convention.

All Pradeshiya Sabha, Urban Council and Provincial Council members, Parliamentarians, ex-Parliamentarians, lawyers, UNP trade unions and pro-UNP journalists have submitted their proposals for the consideration of the reforms committee.