In Sri Lanka, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe has decided to step down as leader of United National Party (UNP) following the party’s poor performance at the parliamentary elections held last week.

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the decision was taken during the meeting of party’s working committee today.

He said Ravi Karunanayake, Daya Gamage, Vajira Abeywardena and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam have been nominated as party leader and a final decision will be taken on Wednesday.

UNP has secured only one seat at the last week elections with even Mr. Wickremsinghe failing to get elected.

The four-time Prime minister earlier held the record of getting maximum number of preferential votes from Colombo during 2015 elections.

UNP was mired in interparty rivalry for past few years which ultimately led to a large group of MPs and workers forming a new party early this year to contest the elections.

The breakaway group is led by Sajith Premadasa and it secured 54 seats in parliament becoming the main opposition.
Mr. Premadasa has said that he will not go back to UNP and urged others to join his side