UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera requested party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in writing yesterday to amend section 8-1 of the party constitution to enable former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka to vie for a top post in the party.

Mr. Jayasekera, in his letter, said it would not be possible to appoint the former army commander to a top post in the party as, according to the party constitution, only members of the executive committee were entitled to such posts.

According to section 8-1 of the party constitution, a person who contests a top post has to be a member of the executive committee. This, Mr. Jayasekera said, would be disadvantageous to the party at this crucial time.

Besides, he said, it would not be possible for those in the government who wish to cross over to the UNP in the future to obtain any responsible post. He said J.R. Jayawerdene and Gamini Dissanayake would not have become the leaders of the UNP if this rule had been in existence in their time.

Mr. Jayasekera said it was because of this rule that the present leader, the two deputy leaders, party chairman and general secretary had been appointed. He said it was not possible for other capable persons to contest for these posts because of this rule. “A complex situation has arisen in the party as a result of this rule,” he said

He also stressed the need for the party to take on the government instead of being divided against itself.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka