UNP members frustrated at the prolonging leadership crisis have issued party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa a week's ultimatum to resolve the contentious issues between them and reach a final decision.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Premadasa are yet to meet for talks but members remain hopeful that they will do so before Friday.
Mr. Wickremesinghe had met the Spealer for talks last Sunday evening in the absence of Mr. Premedasa while he is said to be discussing the matter with Mr. Jayasuriya who is acting as the mediator to resolve this matter without further dilly dallying.
UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam confirmed to Daily Mirror that Mr. Wickremesinghe had met Mr. Jayasuriya on Sunday evening and that the party was hoping to reach a final decision by Friday.
"A decision on the leadership will be taken by Friday after which the parliamentary group and the working committee will be informed," he said.
Several members have urged that the matter be settled without further delay because of the upcoming general elections likely to be held in the last week of April.
The Daily Mirror learns that in the event an amicable settlement is not reached,Mr. Premadasa will form his own alliance along with the minority parties in the UNF to contest the parliamentary elections.
However, several UNP MPs keen to have this matter settled instead of the party splitting.
UNP MP Sagala Ratnayaka said last week that with the ongoing issues, the party will have to work extremely hard at winning the upcoming elections to secure a majority in Parliament.
(Daily mirror)