By Kelum Bandara

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will appoint a new chairman for the party in place of MP Prof. G. L. Peiris who defected from the party to sit in the opposition, a top source said.

Party’s National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa is reportedly taking steps in this direction. The party will appoint new office bearers at its annual convention to be conducted in the near future. Prof. Peiris is the founder chairman of the party. He, along with 12 others, now sit in the opposition.

The SLPP has also undertaken a programme to reorganise the party in anticipation of elections to the local authorities next year.