UNP Working Committee meeting rescheduled

Colombo (News 1st): The United National Party Working Committee meeting fixed for tomorrow was rescheduled for Monday the 17th of February following talks between Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last evening. Following the meeting, a committee comprising of Sajith Premadasa, Malik Samarawickrama, Mangala Samaraweera and Kabir Hashim were appointed to reach a decision on the symbol which would be used to contest the General Election. The committee also includes Ravi Karunanayake, Akila Viraj, Lakshman Kiriella and John Amaratunga and they would meet tomorrow evening. National Organizer of the UNP Navin Dissanayake said a majority of the UNP Working Committee wish to contest under the symbol of the elephant and believes the party leadership would agree if a vote is called for on the matter. However, he strongly advocated for the matter to be solved through dialogue adding there is no desire to contest under any symbol apart from the symbol of the Elephant. Further he said, as Ranil Wickremesinghe who is now 72-year-old, he should be allowed to complete his chapter, adding Ranil Wickremesinghe had expressed he does not wish to remain at the top for long.