Former President and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the party’s working committee he is willing to step down if his continuation as leader hinders the unification of the UNP and the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Wickremesinghe conveyed his decision at a meeting held at Sirikotha on Wednesday.
The UNP delegation in the discussions includes former parliamentarians Thalatha Atukorale, Ruwan Wijayawardene and Sagala Ratnayaka, while SJB leader Sajith Premadasa heads his party’s negotiating team.
According to sources, Wickremesinghe assured the working committee that he would accept any consensus reached between the two parties on reunification and would not oppose the outcome.
He also indicated that if the talks produced a proposal requiring him to step aside to allow Premadasa or another candidate to assume leadership, he would respect the committee’s decision.
Leave a comment