The United National party will not be taking part in the meeting which is scheduled at Naga Viharaya- Kotte,  this evening- which is aimed at finalizing a decision with regard to the opposition’s common candidate.

Speaking to Asian Mirror, UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayakes said the UNP would be making a decision on the matter based on the outcome of today’s meeting.

The movement for a Just Society, led by Maduuwawe Sobhitha Thera, has already stated that the parties will be able to arrive at a crucial decision on the matter at today’s meeting.

Karunanayake also added that the G-20 group of the UNP – the twenty member operations committee set up by the opposition leader targeting the presidential election – is scheduled to meet this evening.

At this point, UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya have been proposed by various groups in the party as potential presidential candidates.

If the party decides to proceed with a common candidate, Jayasuriya stands a better chance of becoming the presidential candidate of the UNP.  

The party’s possibility of fielding a UNP-backed common candidate at the presidential election is likely to be discussed at the G-20 meeting today.

However, representatives of the other political parties of the opposition are scheduled to meet at Naga Viharaya today to make a crucial decision on the opposition’s common candidate. Chief incumbent of Naga Viharaya Kotte, Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Convener of the Movement for a Just Society, will preside over the meeting.