Sajith Premadasa At Temple Trees Today For Another Discussion With Prime Minister: UNP Presidential Candidacy Issue Still Hangs In The Balance

September 25, 2019

UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was at Temple Trees earlier today for a discussion with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was also expected to attend the meeting, informed political sources said.

The outcome of the discussion is not immediately clear. However, the meeting took place after Sajith Premadasa said he would not agree with conditions imposed on him in exchange for presidential candidacy.

During a meeting with several MPs supporting Sajith Premadasa at Temple Trees last night, Wickremesinghe said he would give Premadasa presidential candidacy in exchange for several conditions.

The conditions included ensuring the retention of Wickremesinghe as the party leader and the Prime Minister, the abolition of the Executive Presidency in six months and leaving President Maithripala Sirisena out of the UNF election campaign.

As Premadasa has turned down the proposals, the UNP presidential candidacy issue has gone back to square one, party insiders said.