Ranil returns to brewing storm in UNP

Opposition and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe returned from his Indian tour on Thursday evening, party sources said. He was in Indiaon a 4 day private tour.

Mr. Wickremesinghe had met Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna in New Delhi where he is said to have discussed ‘Sri Lanka’s Tamil issues’, according to these sources.

While Ranil Wickremesinghe was in India, pressure had increased within the UNP for a change in party leadership, though he had reportedly instructed the Working Committee not to discuss his removal from leadership while he was away.

Many in the party demand that he steps down as party leader and hands over the position to a capable person. Several prominent UNP high rankers had reportedly met the committee headed by Parliamentarian Joseph Michael Perera, tasked with accepting proposals for reforms in the party constitution.

Hambantota district Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa and UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya were among the prominent members who were to meet the committee on Thursday.