Colombo(News 1st) – It was reported that the UNP leadership has agreed to present the candidacy at the upcoming Presidential polls to Minister Sajith Premadasa on the basis that he adheres to a few conditions.

Minister of Public Administration, Disaster Management and Livestock Development, Ranjith Madduma Bandara expressed his views on the UNP candidate and the aforestated conditions. He stated that they would announce the UNP candidate tomorrow (September 26). He further added that they are working to appoint a candidate who will definitely win in compliance with people’s demand.
He further added that the indicated conditions are not major noting that they were principles of the United National Party. He further mentioned that the Working Committee would convene tomorrow.

Speaking on the matter, MP of UNP Wijepala Hettiarachchi affirmed that the Working Committee will be convened tomorrow adding that the Prime Minister would then announce Sajith Premadasa as the candidate.

“It is not just that, the Prime Minister will lead this election campaign, continue as the Prime Minister until 2025, and will function as the Party Leader for the next 5 years”, he continued. He emphasized that they will appoint Sajith Premadasa as the President of the country by the 17th of November noting that he would also abolish the executive Presidency, eventually earning the name as one of the most democratic leaders in history.

Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader Minister, Sajith Premadasa following a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees this morning stated that he would not surrender to any conditions.
He further highlighted that the election will decide the president of this country. In response to a question forwarded by the journalists whether he has agreed to make Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister if he is appointed as the candidate.
He further mentioned that his name has not been proposed by anyone officially even though the newspapers had reported that his name was agreed upon after he consented to certain terms and conditions. “I’m not someone who can be tied down with conditions to obtain the Presidential candidacy”, he continued.
The Minister added that the final decision is in the hands of the Working Committee adding that it is a united decision that should be taken by the Parliament group and the United National Front.

Ministers Kabir Hashim, Malik Samarawickrama and several others including Rauff Hakeem, representing the United National Front Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance Mano Ganeshan also attended the meeting.

The former secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayaka issuing a letter today stated that the request made by Minister Sajith Premadasa asking those who distanced themselves from the UNP to rejoin the party will be commended by the party membership.
Tissa Attanayake states that he will join hands with the UNP taking into consideration the request that was made by the Deputy Leader.
He pointed out that the reason he left the UNP was that the party did not present a presidential candidate even though the party had an opportunity to select a candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

He stated that since the party is presenting a candidate, his only expectation is for the party to win and therefore has decided to join hands with Minister Sajith Premadasa.

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