Breaking News, News

Ruwan Wijewardene elected new UNP Deputy Leader

14 Sep, 2020

Ruwan Wijewardene has been elected as the new Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP).

Wijewardene and UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake were nominated for the post of Deputy Leader.

A secret ballot was later held among members of the UNP Working Committee and Wijewardene was elected to the post.

Wijewardene secured 28 votes while Karunanayake secured only 10 votes.

Wijewardene replaces Sajith Premadasa who had been removed from the post.

Earlier, UNP General-Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the Colombo Gazette that Premadasa had been removed from the post following the UNP?s decision in July to expel 54 members who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya for the 05 August General Elections.

There were reports that Premadasa was not removed as UNP Deputy Leader in order to keep the doors open to unite the UNP and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

The UNP suffered a humiliating loss at the 05 August General Elections and failed to secure a single seat in Parliament.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya came second in the election and became the main opposition in Parliament.?(Colombo Gazette)

Recommended For You

Feature Image

FR petition by Dr. Shafi to be considered next month

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by Dr. Mohamed Shafi is to be considered next month. The case was to be considered by the Supreme Court today. However the respondents of the petition had reportedly not received the notices issued to them and as a result the petition was moved to 6 August. Dr. Shafi was arrested and remanded after being accused of performing illegal sterilization surgeries and having links to terrorist activities.

22 Jul, 2019

Feature Image

Revision application on bail granted to IGP, Hemasiri to be considered on 1st August

The revision application on the bail granted to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando is to be considered by the Colombo High Court on 1st August. The Attorney General had last week filed a revised application before the Colombo High Court against the Colombo Magistrate?s Court order granting bail to Jayasundara and former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando. Jayasundara and Fernando were granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate

23 Jul, 2019

Feature Image

St Sebastian’s Church damaged in April blasts reconsecrated

The St Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, Negombo was reconsecrated today (Sunday), three months after it was badly damaged in the Easter Sunday blasts that rocked the island nation. A monument with the names of 114 people, who died during the church attack, inscribed on it was also unveiled during the reconsecration ceremony. The head of the local Catholic church, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, attended the mass and conducted the service to consecrate the church, the Press Trust of India reported

21 Jul, 2019