I can’t be the UNP leader forever: Ranil

United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said today his immediate task was to introduce a new leadership to the party.

He said this when he met some university students at the UNP headquarters, Sirikotha, and pointed out that all UNPers should come under one umbrella for the purpose of deciding on party reforms.

“I cannot be UNP leader forever. That is why I consider it my responsibility to nurture a new leadership. For this purpose all UNPers should join together in deciding on the party's future course of action,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said. “The UNP has to grow from strength to strength and cannot be allowed to stagnate. We will begin campaigning for the general election from January 2020. The MPs have come up with programmes which we have to carry out in the future.”

He said former deputy leader Sajith Premadasa should fulfil his responsibilities as the new opposition leader and carry out the party's parliamentary affairs.

“Everyone including the new leaders should take the party to new heights. We did that in 1970. Let’s start work now because there is no time to waste,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said. (Yohan Perera)