Due to differences among National Unity Alliance (NUA) members on proposed reforms to the Local Government Elections Act, the party on Friday appointed a seven member committee to study the issue.

Friday's meeting was the first since Ms. Ferial Ashraff took over the leadership of NUA.

The meeting was presided over by retired Judge K. Palakidner, the Patron of the NUA. Mr. Palakidner at the commencement of the meeting called upon Ferial Ashraff to take the chair as the leader of the NUA.

A NUA spokesman said that one of the activists Mr. Kapila Rajapakshe raised a question as to the ratification of the appointment of Mrs. Ashraff as the leader of the NUA. At this stage Asitha Perera, former member of Parliament who was the National Organizer of the NUA informed the forum that Mrs. Ashraff was appointed NUA leader at the last politbureau meeting held on 18.09.2000.

Rauff Hakeem, the then Secretary General of the NUA had issued a press communique and it was handed over to Perera to be given to the Press. Perera also tabled a copy of the said press communique.

Responding to this, Mrs. Ashraff stated that she is confident that Hakeem the then Secretary General of NUA would have informed the relevant authorities including the Commissioner of Elections and the members need not have any doubt about this.

A number of important issues including the Mawanella incident and policy reforms on Local Government were discussed.