Amidst a division of opinion, Sajith Premadasa is to be re-appointed Deputy Leader of the UNP today.

Informed sources said that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in keeping with his pledge to give Premadasa more responsibility would be proposing Premadasa for the vacant post of Deputy Leader at today’s Working Committee(WC), meeting which would be preceded by a meeting of the Leadership Council (LC). He made this pledge before Saturday’s election to the Uva Provincial Council.

The LC is divided with regard to Premadasa’s elevation to number two slot, but WC approval which was seen as a formality, should see him back in the saddle and given the task of ensuring Wickremesinghe wins the next presidential election.

UNP sources described General Secretary Tissa Attanayake’s resignation from the LC as a ‘storm in a tea cup’. He had not quit the post of General Secretary they pointed out, adding that he would be back in the LC with Premadasa very soon. “Everyone is trying to draw the leaders attention now and there is an element of confusion, which was sure to evaporate, once the positions were sorted out.”

Ravi Karunanayake and Mangala Samaraweera who have clashed publicly with Premadasa on several issues are also expected to be given responsible positions.

Harin Fernando, who beat chief ministerial Shasheendra Rajapaksa in terms of preferential votes on Saturday is also to be given a position, but that was most likely to happen after the UNP Convention due to be held in December, sources noted.

The UNP earlier had two Assistant Leaders––Joseph Michael Perera and Lakshman Kirialle. Since Kirialle was appointed Senior Vice Chairman earlier this year, the other position has remained vacant.

Courtesy:The Island