UNP top notch gathers for private "dinner"

Colombo (News1st) - Ministers and Parliamentarians from the United National Party met in Colombo last evening (August 20). This meeting of the UNP was attended by Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa, Party Chairman Kabir Hashim as well as Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Malik Samarawickrama. Following the meeting, the following comments were made to the media. Minister Sajith Premadasa responded that they do not need to inform anybody about meeting for dinner replying to a question raised by the journalists regarding if the Prime Minister was aware of the meeting. He further added that the decision regarding the UNP's presidential candidate will be made at the appropriate time. Chairman of UNP, Minister Kabir Hashim stated that it was a cordial meeting to talk about their future election activities and well as the organizing process. He mentioned they did not discuss the Presidential Candidate during this meeting. He added that it would be discussed within the party at first and then with the party leaders. "Thereafter we will decide on a date to form the alliance and sign the agreement. Our objective is to introduce our candidate to the country on that day ", he continued. Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera mentioned that they would reach a decision soon following discussions as a democratic party and with the consent of all. He further highlighted that the atmosphere at present favours the formation of an alliance. Journalists repeated the question of whether the Prime Minister was aware of the meeting to the Deputy Minister of Social Empowerment Palitha Thewarapperuma. "Do we need permission from the Prime Minister to have dinner together?", he asked in response to it. He further mentioned that even though it is said that the Presidential Candidate must be chosen as per the need of the United National Front, they were elected from votes cast by UNP supporters. He highlighted that when Fonseka was made the common candidate nothing came from his political party. Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr Harsha de Silva mentioned that they have put forward a document to the Prime Minister and that they believe the matter will be resolved internally. Non-Cabinet Minister of Science Technology & Research, Sujeewa Senasinghe highlighted that the UNP has the urge to win and they are requesting the Prime Minister to support it. "We hope the Prime Minister would respond positively to this request", he continued.