The 'Reformists' in the UNP yesterday met the seven member committee appointed by the UNP leader Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe to discuss the ongoing dispute and urged the committee to summon an early party group meeting to discuss the crisis that once again continued yesterday.

Sources said members of the faction told the committee that there was no conspiracy planned to back stab the leader in his absence as the leader's confidante Malik Samarawickrema was present at discussions held to urge a change in the leadership in the interest of the party.

The seven member committee comprised Messrs. W. J. M. Lokubandara, Alick Aluvihare, Festus Perera, Joseph Michael Perera, Tyronne Fernando, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku and A. R. M. A. Cader.

Referring to the position taken by the UNP leader that 49 MPs have signed a memorandum placing their confidence on him, the reformist faction had said that the member included many 'freshers' and a few returned to Parliament for the second time.

They have said that it was not a cricket match to depend on figures but an issue that concerned the future of the party. "We would like to meet those 49 MPs at a meeting of the group," they have requested.

A member from the Colombo district had pointed out that the faction which needed a change followed the democratic path to meet the leader to urge him to step down as Mr. Wickremasinghe was one who believed in democratic norms. "Our leader was a person who vacated Temple Trees as Prime Minister before schedule after the UNP defeat, to avoid confrontation saying he believed in democracy; this MP has told the committee.

The MP has recalled that Mr. Wickremasinghe following his defeat at the last presidential election has set a very democratic precedence by asking the party whether the leader should continue or step down after a defeat. "In keeping with his policy we met him and asked him to step down as he showed a negative attitude to defeat the PA on the budget," this MP had explained.

They had urged the committee to request the leader to summon an early meeting of the Parliamentary group to discuss the crisis further.