Mar 29, Colombo: Most of the members in rebellion group of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) have boycotted the dinner given by their leader Ranil Wickremasinghe in celebration of his 60th birthday on March 24th.

Party sources said that nearly 50% of the rebellion group did not participate in the dinner held at the Wickramasingha's residence Friday night.

The Chairman of the UNP Rukman Senanayake, National Organizer S.B Dissanayake, Laxman Senaviratne, Ravi Karunanayaka, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, P. Harrison, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Johnston Fernando, Thalatha Athukorala, Indika Bandaranayaka MHA Haleem and several other working committee members were absent while another senior member of this rebellion group Sajith Premadasa has participated.

Sajith Premadasa was nominated as a Senior Deputy Leader of the party, but it was not granted yet by the working committee of UNP.

Meanwhile some members of the UNP said that this dinner was given by Ranil Wickremasinghe to celebrate his narrow escape from losing the leadership in the party.