UNP reforms: New advisory council to play major role

The United National Party’s main officials – who, other than the General Secretary, will be elected -- will form an Advisory Council to appoint district level officials, managers and fill vacancies in provincial and local councils.

As exclusively revealed in last Sunday’s front page report in the Sunday Times, the six-member Party Reforms Committee has decided that this Advisory Council will include the party leader, the deputy and assistant leader, the general secretary and the party chairman, but the council’s decisions will need the ratification of the party’s Working Committee.

Other important recommendations in the Reform Committee report, handed over to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday, are:

• The present composition of the Working Committee will so remain until the formation of the Working Committee in compliance with these proposed amendments to the Constitution and will therefore be eligible to vote at the first elections for office-bearers.
• The Political Affairs Committee as already provided in the Constitution shall not exceed 14 members including the Leader, Deputy Leader, General Secretary, Chairman and the National Organizer and there shall be at least one member to represent each province in the country. It shall be headed by the Leader. The quorum shall be four members.
• Following office bearers shall be elected by consensus from and among the members of the Working Committee. In the event of any competition for such office, an election shall be held by secret ballot. The members of the Working Committee and UNP Members of Parliament shall be eligible to vote at these elections.
• a) The Leader of the Party;
  b) The Deputy Leader of the Party;
  d) National Organiser of the Party;
  e) Chairman of the Party;
• The Leader shall appoint the General Secretary in consultation with the Working Committee.
• All the other office bearers shall be appointed by a committee comprising the Leader, the Deputy Leader, the Assistant Leader, National Organiser, the Chairman and the General Secretary.