The Working Committees of the United National Party (UNP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya are scheduled to be convened independently today (29).

UNP’s Working Committee, chaired by its leader and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, will meet at the party headquarters, Sirikotha premises, in the morning.

The committee will deliberate the matter of cancelling party membership of 102 members who had submitted nominations from Samagi Jana Balawegaya for the upcoming General Election, according to reports.

In the meantime, Sajith Premadasa-led alliance Samagi Jana Balawegaya is also planning to hold its Working Committee meeting this afternoon at the party’s headquarters in Ethul Kotte.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed in writing to 102 members of the UNP who had handed over nominations from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya that their party membership will be suspended with immediate effect.

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, in a statement, said that as per the party’s constitution prior permission needs to be obtained from the Working Committee before handing over nominations through another political party and that, however, none of these members had obtained prior approval in writing. 

Former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and other senior figures of the United National Party are among the members whose party membership has been suspended while they have been given 07 days to show cause.