By Norman Palihawadana and Rathindra Kuruwita

Former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera resigned from the UNP Working Committee, yesterday, expressing his displeasure at the appointment of Ravi Karunanayake as the party’s Assistant Leader.

Perera stormed out of the Party Headquarters yesterday morning, in the middle of a Working Committee meeting.

Meanwhile Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayaka stated that Karunanayake should have been given a party position only after allegations against him had been cleared. “I have nothing personal against Karunanayake. In fact, he is a close personal friend but the allegations against him are grave and we have promised the people that we will not give prominent positions to those with corruption charges.”

During yesterday’s working committee meeting, Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs, John Amaratunga also announced that a disciplinary inquiry is being held against Ramanayaka for publicly criticising UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The UNP working committee yesterday appointed Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam as the General Secretary of the party while Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake was appointed the UNP National Organizer. Minister Kabir Hashim, the former General Secretary of the party, was appointed Party Chairman while Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa was reappointed to the post of Deputy Leader.

State Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva was appointed the UNP Treasurer, Minister Harin Fernando the party’s Communications Secretary while State Minister Ajith P. Perera has been appointed as Trade Union Secretary.

Meanwhile, former Minister and newly reappointed UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake said only a single person had raise objections to his reappointment and, therefore, he was not bothered. He said the party had faith in him and that was why he had been reappointed to that position.

Courtesy:The Island