It is already in the grapevine among the UNP circles that Malik Samarawickrama is likely to be appointed as the next Finance Minister, if the UNP- led alliance secures victory at the Parliamentary election.
Samarawickrama, Chairman of the UNP, topped the UNP national list which was presented to the Elections Department on July 13.
Samarawickrama is a close associate of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Chief strategist of the UNP campaign for the Parliamentary election.
Although Samarawickrama has been a long - standing supporter and a key member of the UNP, he has never served as a Parliamentarian.