Colombo: Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday retained the leadership of the United National Party (UNP), defeating his rival in a secret ballot.

Wickremesinghe has been under pressure to quit the party leadership since the UNP`s rout in the April 2010 election. He defeated his rival Karu Jayasuriya by 72-24 in a secret ballot among the party`s working committee members.
Jayasuriya posed the latest challenge to Wickremesinghe after a similar bid by the other aspirant Sajith Premadasa.
He in March withdrew the challenge by agreeing to work under Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe who led the party since 1994 is being blamed for his inability to lead the party to victory.
PTI