Crucial meeting for UNP tomorrow

COLOMBO (News 1st) - UNP seniors claim that a crucial meeting will take place tomorrow (September 10) between Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, on the presidential candidate to represent the UNP. Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development noted that Minister Sajith Premadasa and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would come to an agreement. He added that they have a strong relationship between them and they would come to some sort of an agreement tomorrow. However, Kiriella added that they would not come to a decision on the presidential candidate tomorrow. Journalist: Is it true Minister Sajith Premadasa took a step back? Minister Kabir Hashim, the Chairman of the United National Party responded that elephants do not take their steps back and they march forward together. Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries noted that the Working Committee of the party would decide on a presidential candidate. He added that the Working Committee comprises 68 members and 48 out of them are MPs requesting the party leader to be the presidential candidate. Minister went on to note that if the party leader fails to be the candidate the deputy leader must take his place. He added the deputy leader is popular and its a strength for the entire UNP. He added that some want "Number 2" to replace the "Number 1", but for both to succeed they both needed to work together. Minister P. Harrison, Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Irrigation and Fisheries noted that premier could not contest alone and win. He added that the Working Committee and the other MPs should come to a decision. He finally added that everything will be resolved within this week.