Ruwan Wijewardene elected Deputy Leader of UNP

• Mr. Wijewardene polled 28 votes while Mr. Karunanayake polled 10 votes   
• Former Ministers Navin Dissanayake and Vajira Abeywardene did not contest for the Deputy Leader’s post

By Yohan Perera   

Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene was elected Deputy Leader at a secret ballot yesterday.    

UNP Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara told journalists that a secret ballot was conducted when both Mr. Wijewardene and Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake informed the working committee that they would contest for the post. Mr. Karunanayake has informed the leadership that he would contest for the Deputy Leader’s post while party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had then inquired from Mr. Wijewardene whether he would also contest, to which Mr. Wijewardene had agreed. The secret ballot had taken place at that time.   

Mr. Wijewardene was apparently elected as the Deputy Leader with a majority of 18 votes. Accordingly Mr. Wijewardene polled 28 votes while Mr. Karunanayake polled 10 votes.   

However according to party sources the new leader will be selected next year.   

It was reported that Former Ministers Navin Dissanayake and Vajira Abeywardene did not contest for the Deputy Leader’s post. 

• According to party sources the new leader will be selected next year