UNP Hambanthota District  MP Sajith Premadasa has put forward another condition to the party and demanded that he should be given the administrative powers at the party headquarters ‘Sirikotha’ before his appointment as the deputy leader of the party.

In addition, he has also demanded the abolition of the Leadership Council and 10 Working Committee slots for representatives nominated by him.

UNP sources told Asian Mirror that National Leader of the party, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has still not responded to the conditions put forward by Premadasa. At the same time, several senior officials of the party have vehemently protested some of the conditions laid down by Premadasa- mainly the abolition of the Leadership Council.

Therefore, the move to appoint Premadasa as the Deputy Leader of the party has now come to a standstill.  However, it is learnt that General Secretary of the party, MP Tissa Attanayake, strongly backs Premadasa’s pre-conditions.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, a senior UNP Parliamentarian said this morning (11) that PRemadasa’s pre-conditions stand in the way of his appointment as the Deputy Leader.

At the convention of the party, which was held in Badulla last week, Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe said Premadasa would be given “priority” when appointing the deputy leader of the UNP. He did not reveal any timeframe pertaining to the appointment.