'Will hand over UNP to young leader' Says Ranil Wickremesinghe

Colombo: Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has announced his decision to step down as the leader of the UNP after remaining at the helm for 26 years, said the party will be handed over to a young leader after the provincial council elections.

Addressing a meeting at the United National Party headquarters in Sirikotha, he also said that a new mechanism will be created initially where the younger members could play a major role in the party, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Monday.

On August 10, the former Prime Minister announced his decision which came almost a week after the August 5 parliamentary elections, where the UNP, one of Sri Lanka's oldest political parties, did not manage to win any seat.

Wickremesinghe took over as the UNP leader in 1994 after from former President D.B. Wijetunga had who resigned. He then went on to serve as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on three occasions. (IANS) 

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