Selecting Presidential candidate UNP MPs mull secret ballot
Posted on August 14th, 2019
By J.T. de Silva and W.K. Prasad Manju Courtesy Ceylon Today
A group of United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarians are attempting to select the Presidential candidate, by holding a secret election at the Working Committee, and in the Parliamentary Group Meetings.
Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that a document has been prepared by the MPs to request a secret election from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
He further added that Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara is making that document, and that he has refused to sign it.
There is a possibility of holding a secret election on 19 August at the MPs meeting. However, Wickremesinghe and Minister Sajith Premadasa should discuss about it and come to a decision, and if not a secret election should be held to solve the issue, he further added.
Meanwhile, a UNP backbencher said that a considerable number of United National Party (UNP) backbenchers are against the plan to hold a meeting at Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s house on 20 August, to discuss the Presidential candidate and the proposed formation of the Democratic National Front (DNF).
He opined that Senaratne cannot be trusted, as he is against a candidate being put forward by the UNP. He added that Senaratne is expecting the General Secretary post of the proposed Front, and that a majority of UNPers were against it. He proposed that such a decisive discussion should be held at Temple Trees or Sirikotha, and the policies of the UNP should not be betrayed to pander to the needs of certain father and son combinations.
CT Web 02:00 AM Aug 15 2019