Rienzie Algama, 60, a supporter of the United National Party (UNP) who is in critical condition told of his dissatisfaction over attempts to remove Ranil Wickremasinghe from the party leadership, said an eyewitness quoting the victim's statement to police.

Mr. Algama set himself on fire near the UNP headquarters Sirikotha, in the outskirts of Colombo.

A security guard at UNP headquarters in Colombo, Sirikotha, said that the victim is a supporter of parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake.

Mr. Algama was transferred to Colombo National hospital, after being admitted to Colombo south hospital with severe burn injuries, Director Dr. Anil Jayasinghe told BBC Sandeshaya.

UNP Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya has told Daily Mirror newspaper that Mr. Algama contacted him to express his "disgust" over the absence of unity in the party.

The main opposition UNP yesterday requested IGP Mahinda Balasuriya to conduct ‘impartial inquiries' to find the reasons for party supporter Rienzie Algama to set himself ablaze on Monday. Mr. Algama who tried self immolation died of burn injuries yesterday morning.

Meanwhile,  Rienzie Algama had told police before he died that he set himself ablaze because no one had taken into consideration several reforms proposals he had handed over to the party working committee, police sergeant N.A. Gamini said yesterday at the inquest into the death. Addressing a hurriedly summoned news conference, UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said Mr. Algama had fully committed himself to the party, and therefore his death was a great loss.  Mr. Jayasuriya said the UNP saluted this person who sacrificed his life for the party at this hour.

“Last morning, Mr. Algama contacted me over the phone. He remained dejected over divisions within the party. In fact, he told me he would quit politics. I advised him not to take hasty decisions. Yet, later, I heard he tried self immolation,” the Deputy Leader said.

He said the media had carried out fabricated statements on this incident, and therefore requested the IGP to conduct impartial inquiries to ascertain the truth.

“We ask those who make false statements not to insult  the dead person. After Mr. Algama was hospitalized, I visited him. Even on the hospital bed, he talked about the need to have unity in the party,” Mr. Jayasuriya said.

The Deputy Leader said, “This person (Mr. Algama) is a rare character. Though he worked full time for the party, he did not accept a cent from the party.”  UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the funeral would be conducted as soon as possible.

“We ask our party supporters to mourn his death,” he said.

UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardane said doctors of the Colombo and Kalubovila hospitals made every possible effort to save his life.  Dr. Jayawardane thanked all those doctors on behalf of the party.