Electoral Organisers report directly to AC - Relevance of UNP Nat. Organiser arises

*No District Chairman under new constitution – Gayantha

by Zacki Jabbar

Under the UNP’s new constitution, the electoral organisers have to report directly to the six-member Advisory Committee, headed by the leader, since the post of District Chairman has been scrapped, Media Spokesman Gayantha Karunathillake MP said yesterday.

He told a news conference in Colombo that the Advisory Committee comprising the UNP leader, Chairman, Co-Deputy leaders, General Secretary, Treasurer and National Organiser (still to be appointed), have been entrusted with the task of running the affairs of the party in consultation with the Working Committee.

Asked if the concept of National Organiser, under the UNP’s new constitution, has lost its relevance, due to the existence of an Advisory Body, Karunathillake told The Island that they never had such a position, except for a brief period when S. B. Dissanayake functioned in that capacity.

He said that it was too soon to say if the National Organiser would be a mere figure head. "When Ranasinghe Premadasa was Prime Minister, the position was described as largely ceremonial. But he ensured that it did have a certain degree of power. So the same thing could happen once the National Organiser’s post is properly established."

Questioned if Ranjith Madduma Bandara or Ravi Karunanayake, who is more senior, would be appointed as the National Organiser, now that all have agreed on positions being determined amicably, Karunathillake declining to confirm any name, said that a decision would be taken this week.

The Working Committee, he said, was scheduled to meet within the next few days and they were confident of reaching a consensus on all vacancies, including the appointment of five Vice Presidents (instead of two earlier) and two Assistant Secretaries.

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