Who will be the UNP's presidential candidate?

COLOMBO (News 1st): Speaking on the presidential candidate to be put forward by the United National Party, the General Secretary of UNP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that the decision on the candidate will be made by the working committee at the appropriate time. Responding to an inquiry made by a journalist as to whether or not the Prime Minister will be awarded this opportunity, the minister refused to respond and repeated that while the decision lies with the working committee that Wickremesinghe will remain the leader of the party. When questioned on the Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya's name being mentioned as the presidential candidate, the minister only laughed and requested the media to refrain from worrying over the matter.