Former JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe called on the present leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to step down or call a national convention of the party to let the party members decide on their leader.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Amarasinghe said that the JVP is currently following the UNP agenda. This could be seen by what Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said over the past few months, in the parliament and as a spokesman for the National Executive Council, Amarasinghe claimed. He also said that he was prepared to face an open debate on this issue. He also said that if the party does not change its policy, it is best to change the name of the party.

Amarasinghe added that he was challenging the party leadership to call a convention. Then the party members will take the correct decision, he said. Amarasinghe also claimed that the party leadership is afraid to call such a convention.