What is happening to the UNP Presidential candidate?

COLOMBO (News 1st):- While grassroots level representatives of the United National Party unanimously approved Sajith Premadasa as the Presidential candidate, the leadership of the party has made yet another controversial revelation. At a recent event, Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam says that no matter what this journey will continue united and not divided although many people want to create a division. During UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's address at the event, he questioned those gathered on why they are laughing at him, to which few of those in the crowds had responded that they are not laughing, but that they are requesting for a President with a backbone this time to which the Prime Minister replied that they will provide such a candidate. Minister Kirella says that they will nominate the person the entire country wants and that even if it is Sajith Premadasa that those wishes will be granted for the people. Those were some of the promises made by several seniors of the party over the past few weeks, regarding the presidential candidate of their party. However, many newspapers reported yesterday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had mentioned to several senior ministers, that he would be contesting the Presidential Election. This begs the question, is Ranil Wickremesinghe the figure who the general public and UNP supporters are asking for? This recent statement of Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest for the presidential election was the topic of concern for many members of the opposition as well. UPFA MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene says that he (Ranil Wickremesinghe) will always hide during times of crisis and that when the rest of the people are worn out as a result of the crisis, that he comes forward while also saying that the Prime Minister knows too well to procrastinate. He further said that he (RW) knows all too well to solve this matter by postponing it. Even yesterday speaking to all party leaders that he had explained to them the method of winning where he had stressed on the fact that the party cannot win without him since they must secure votes for the minorities. Abeywardene continued to say that he will then propose and say that he is the Presidential candidate and that someone else is the Prime Ministerial candidate, and then added that if he is elected as the President that he will have the power to name the Prime Minister as he wishes. Journalist: Rumor has it, this whole process is being controlled and influenced by a certain external force across the borders. To this MP Abeywardene responded that there is clearly an external force and that only this force could silence Ranil Wickremesinghe since he is very obedient to international forces although he never listens to local politicians. UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa also commenting on the same matter said that they have no doubt that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the chief agent of the South Asian region, to the US. He further says that it is under his authority that these US security forces enter the country and operates with their own agendas. He adds that even though these two incidents are not linked or not that it is clear the Prime Minister is a puppet of America. Meanwhile, JVP Uva Provincial Councilor Samantha Vidyaratne says that the Americans who came with the luggage recently left them in Sri Lanka and fled to the US. He further said that now they can see which American friendly leaders are struggling to send Wickremesinghe once again to the main chair of the country. Vidyaratne says that the people should keep in mind that if the country's independence, sovereignty, and the freedom should be secured that they cannot bring in an American friendly leader to be the President of the country.   https://youtu.be/cOt8wWCBNao