Speculations on a caretaker government at UNP meeting

Colombo (New 1st) - The UNP Working Committee gathered at Sirikotha today (October 17) under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Minister Sajith Premadasa was questioned by journalists regarding speculations on the formation of a "caretaker" government, and whether the President and the Prime minister had already discussed this matter. Minister Sajith Premadasa replied that these reports are only speculations made by the media and that in his opinion there is no such thing happening. He also stated that whatever said and done, strong and practical solutions should be given to the issue of livelihoods of the people of the country and that there should be some sort of economic management to ease the day to day lives of the people. There were some members of the UNP working committee who left the meeting before it's conclusion. When questioned about it Min. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera stated that it was because some had other commitments since it was the "Public Day" (a date set aside for MPs and political representatives to meet with their constituents). UNP Chairman Min. Kabir Hashim revealed that attention was also focused on conducting the Provincial Council elections as soon as possible adding that the UNP prefers to conduct the election under the old electoral method.