A fresh controversy has arisen over the new leadership of the UNP following the party's landslide defeat at the parliamentary election.

UNP Vice Chairman Ravi Karunanayake, National Organizer Navin Dissanayake and Vajira Abeywardena have projected themselves as suitable canddidates to take over the UNP leadership from Ranil Wickremesinghe. Abeywardena went on to facilitate a Balamandala meeting in Galle where the party members passed a resolution to appooint Abeywardena as the national list nominee of the party.

Meanwhile, it is now in the grapevine that Wickremesinghe intends to appoint his cousin, Ruwan Wijewardena, as the new leader of the party.

However, none of them were able to secure their seats at the recently-concluded parliamentary election.

Wickremesinghe has summoned a Working Committe meeting at sirikotha this evening to discuss key issues concerning the party leadership and the national list nomination.