Sajith, Ravi clash over southern candidates

UNP MPs Sajith Premadasa and Ravi Karunanayake were locked in an angry exchange of words at yesterday’s meeting of the party’s nomination board for the local polls.

The war of words erupted when the board chaired by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was discussing the list of candidates for the Tissamaharama and Beliatte areas. Others present at the meeting in Siri Kotha were deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya, D.M. Swaminathan, Daya Pelpola.

At first there had been a tussle between Dileep Vedaratchchi, a Premadasa loyalist, and Azmi Thassim, a supporter of Ravi Karunanayake. Both Mr. Premadasa and Mr. Karunanayake had intervened to defend the positions taken up by their respective backers.

Strong words, some unprintable, were used by the Hambantota and Colombo District parliamentarians. It was later brought under control by leader Mr. Wickremesinghe.

Source: ST Online