UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who promised radical changes in the United National Party after April 4th has now moved to consolidate his position having survived the vote on the no-confidence motion tabled by the Joint Opposition.
The Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group of the UNP which met on Saturday (7th) have decided that changes at the top are not urgently required, Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake has told the Daily Mirror.
Earlier, when the outcome of the no-confidence motion was still unclear, Wickremesinghe promised to hand over the leadership of the party ‘to a new group’. It was also reported that he had told Sajith Premadasa, one of the key aspirants to the post of Party Leader, to ‘be ready to play a bigger role in the party’.
The Working Committee would meet on April 8 and 9 to formalize these changes, it was promised.
Wickremesinghe even told loyalists who had gathered at the party headquarters ‘Sirikotha’ that he would ‘completely restructure the party and give more opportunity for new faces’ with a view to win the presidential election scheduled for 2020.
However, the final outcome of discussions indicates a clear U-turn on these pledges. While a special committee with more powers than both the Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group, has been appointed to take decisions with regard to the appointments of new office bearers of the party.
The 11-member committee includes Navin Dissanayake, Ajith P. Perera, Harin Fernando, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Eran Wickremeratne, Ruwan Wijewardene, Mangala Samaraweera and Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
Janaka from Matara / April 8, 2018
CT : It is lot better to write nothing than writing something. Look at this sentence. Leaving aside the crass English that went into it, if the committee is more powerful than the the Working Committeee and the parliamentary group, are we supposed to believe that the intent for change is weak?
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Siri / April 8, 2018
I believe you are out of touch of UNP politics. All those who have been appointed are puppets of RW and he would now control the whole party through them. WC has been effectively neutralized. It’s not an 11 member committee but would dance according to RW’s wishes. If a leader is not truthful to his party men, he driving the party to total annihilation and sorry for its death as a supporter throughout.
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Justice and Fairplay / April 8, 2018
Is this headline merely provocative or is there enough substance to merit worry and distress?
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
I am pretty sure, this elelven member committee appoint themselves to prominent positions. IT looks Ranjan Ramanayake is the Leader for the Evangelists. Ranil. is just a Pambaaya which 31% voter percentage of the superior Sri lankans, and evangelists control.
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
I am pretty sure, that Sri lanka is goverened by prominene\t foreign embsssies residing in colombo. In other places it says, Ranil violated at least NINe Pieces of the constitituion and/or financial legislations. Now, these idiots come and say everything is Hunky dory and and bungling up everything and destroying countrys will be proceeding as usual. As a beginning, some where else say, ROSIE is givjng $/Rs 343 million to one Hotel project and Rs 7 Billion is allocated to Colombo. Maithripala Sirisena ais double crossed every where.
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magala / April 8, 2018
Ranil promised changes after the NCM. But he did not give the timetable.
Ranil promised a Volkswagen factory. He is still working on it. May be everyone in the UNP who has supported him for the last 25 years will get a new car then. But it takes time – may be another 25 years.
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
NOne important in the photo, except this anything is OK for me, If I can hang on to this.
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Burt / April 8, 2018
U turn or not it is a good decision. Handing over without preparation and identifying the person that is going to lead based on name recognition and sonority without competency and ability will be a repeat of the precedency.
Country before party. Properly appoint the cabinet and proceed to do what you have to do for the rest of your mandate.
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pandaranayagam / April 8, 2018
Going back on promises by our political leaders is a habit – whether by those generally considered honourable, well-groomed or otherwise. Ask the Tamil political leadership, if you disagree.
Pandaranayagam
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Sarrij / April 8, 2018
Same old same old; foolish people, take note.
Nothing changes for the better in SL politics.
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Kamalawathie Sameer / April 8, 2018
Mr. Ranilpaksha, you are talking the same kind of sh.. on different days. The ball is on your court! When are you going to learn and when will Rajafucksha and his cronies get behind bars? Will SF be appointed the Law and Order Minister?
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Rajan Wahab / April 8, 2018
Kamalawarhie
So SF is the solution to all problems. What an idiot you are. Did the Maha kalu balla tell you that? Hulla balla kolla.
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Kamalawathie Sameer / April 8, 2018
Rajan Wahab – No, you IGNORAMUS it was “Percy”, “Hora Police”, “Tip CUT Nana” and you – “Rajan Wahab”. Do you have many more aliases dimwit?
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Babansincho / April 8, 2018
by hook or crook, he will have to.
Let s wait. Either he has to work to rule as promised prior to 2015, or should go.
The very same is valid to Mr Sirisena.
If Sajith would not abe ablet. sure. there will be candidates among civl society groups to produce a good leader who will work above the party politcis. We just wanted Rajapakshe rascals be away from our sights.
So long anyone wage the tail to tame them, there will be no easy.
First lock them up and then see it forward. They have enough charges to bring them into prisons.
Even Rajaakshe ARYAWA should be imprisoned if she is the one to have plot Thadjudeen ..
Anyways, even me, should be ready to go to prisons, if I have committed a high crime.
Basta
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Analyst / April 8, 2018
We know that this man is a fully grown Turtle. Just moves along at a pace , So Predictable.
Chuck him out from his position.
Enough of this thieves Protector. He knows when there’s a change the Modamullas are going to be hauled in front of high courts.
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Analyst / April 8, 2018
Turtles when very old have very thick shells, you can’t crack it easily , it’s ugly and it’s very slow not knowing which way ahead.
So we have got an old Turtle for PM , No more to cheer about.
All of you shut up and vote to rid the Turtle.
NCM is the answer.
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Nic / April 8, 2018
Well what is new. This is typical of this faggot and it is shameful that UNP is full of shameless, spineless unprincipled fags. They all had a chance to throw out this cheat but they all chose to bum up to this scum of the earth.
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Thappu / April 8, 2018
I don’t understand politics; Reason: I don’t know politics. I am interested in political developments; Reason: They affect my life. So, I have to ask CT, what are the implications of this move of the PM. If a Committee has been formed, and if their decisions would supersede those of the Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group, isn’t that a big change? Where does the word ‘radical’ fit in in this context. UNP does not have anyone of the stature of Ranil Wickremesinghe, currently. I know that, even though politics I don’t know. The time is not ripe, I suppose, to make a change at the very top. How is this a U-turn? I am all ears!
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K A Sumanasekera / April 8, 2018
Heheheee
Did anyone believe Dr Ranil…
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Analyst / April 8, 2018
KAS
Heheheee have you got loose motions???
Plug it before it stinks the environment.
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
Looking at photos, One photo Show Ranik was partying with Rajitha senarathne and a two more unknown people. HEre, Eventhough SPeaker should be impartial, HE is with Ranil but no one else. IT doe snot look Ranil’s face is in a PArty mood. As he got 122 votes why he does not establish a NAtional govt with muslims, Tamils and UNP MPs.? Now, there is no need of Maitheipala Sirisena in his side ?
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Mallaiyuran / April 8, 2018
Mr. Rajavaroyam Sampanthan, with the consultancy of Mr.Abraham Sumanthiran has signed a deed of 10 Commandments with Mr.Ranil Wickramasinghe.
Mahaweli Development Board has broken all the barriers of the 13 A and colonizing North with an speed to surpass East, before Ranil stand for 202o EP.
“Aanadavan Kadavulai Kaapathuvaraka” (May the almighty save the God).
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
I heard Constitution or the PArliamentary rule book is also CRAP. Becuse, eventhough the no of Nationalist MPs are supposed to be 45, there are 57 MPs (Thzat is whatI heard). Ranil won th eno-confidence vote because of those MPs. > If not he would have lost, rishad Bathiuddin, Hakeem like people would have had to give up their welfare cycle. True figures not known.
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
People are cashing No-confidence motion votes. Rajitha Senarathne has floated a Rs one billion tender for Sterlized gloves. there is a company making gloves in colombo. but, the contract will go to the highest commis paying Sri lankan businessman. I heard it is Ranil’s Nephew.
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Nimal / April 8, 2018
Jim
Are you Shure of this? Ranil must give a response to this.
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Real Revolutionist / April 8, 2018
Ranil will never be able to make successful progressive changes in the party. There’s no support base for him inside the party except some active sympathizers.
UNP members must question him that whether he had received party recommendation to barter 10 TNA demands for votes in favor of him in recent NCM.
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Jim softy / April 8, 2018
Why did KAbir HAssim and Malik Samrawickrama resigned but RAVI THE LIOAR was by the side. WAs he saying now we both the instigator and thieves acquitted.
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shankar / April 8, 2018
When is the next no confidence motion to get rid of ranil?
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Henry Fernando / April 8, 2018
If this news is factual , it is a clear win to MR and all the crooks and they will be safe and sound until 2020 and a sigh of relief to President as well. In a way PM is correct because he cannot save the UNP corrupt MPP and his acolytes unless he settles the Pohottuwa and other SLFP rogues and criminals. How? Just allow them to carry on regardless , he has already promised to help and give more facilities to MPP. in the future too. I think Ven. Dambara Amila Thero should remind PM his telling words and the warning given to President a few weeks ago. Can one see a difference in political conduct of the President and PM.? As far as politics and honesty are concerned both of them are in the same boat. Wither Sri Lanka? It is being taken for a ride, I mean the Nation.
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Lanki / April 8, 2018
Sajith Premadasa should be appointed as joint head of UNP.
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Real Revolutionist / April 8, 2018
What’s his qualification?
Children shouldn’t be appointed for father’s qualifications.
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Plato. / April 8, 2018
The More things Change, the More they Stay the Same.
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Fathima / April 8, 2018
Well done Ranil.
There is no need to keep those promises made under duress. JO will never attempt it again and UNP will never ever attempt it.
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The Sinopian / April 8, 2018
The catch dropped again
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Real Revolutionist / April 9, 2018
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Eagle Eye / April 8, 2018
Why should Ranil reform UNP when the official Opposition in the Parliament is hanging in the tail of ‘Kola Aliya’. The behavior of TNA as the official Opposition in the Parliament is really disgusting. If the main role of the Opposition is to question the government and hold them accountable to the public, why is the present so-called Opposition voting en bloc to safeguard the Prime Minister at a no confidence motion based on a monetary irregularity that has affected the entire country and not based on any false propaganda?
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critical observer / April 8, 2018
good point Sir, But the sad part is all of the UNP MPs or all of the UNP supporters who comment here, know this truth but do not want to accept it. They only see what they want to see, not the ground reality.
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Donald G Perera / April 8, 2018
This writer doesn’t get the English right. “hand over the leadership of the party ‘to a new group,” does means people at the leading helms and not merely the chief leader. It refers to a level. In RW’s own case, the issue was put before the entire Parliamentary group and the group decided to lay by for now any proposal for change in Ranil.
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nalmen / April 8, 2018
typical of the Pakaya
he must realise it was not a vote for him but for the party
that is why the dissidents voted for him
if the young turks allow him to do it they are digging their graves
it is better for them to form a new unp like indira gandhi did by forming Congress I
against the leadership
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Ad / April 8, 2018
It is not a case of backtracking, but requires time to value selecting a successor without prejudice. SP is popular, however there are others who needs attention as well. e.g. IB is an option to evaluate. Unity among ethnicity and religions also should be kept in mind when selecting.
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