It is in the grapevine that Colombo District UNP Parliamentarian Ravi  Karunanayake might step down from the party, if and when Hambanthota District Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa as the Deputy Leader of the party.

Several media reports claimed that Premadasa has requested the party to appoint him as a Deputy Leader ahead of the next national level election. However there are two schools of thought among the UNP rank and file over the matter.

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Speaking to his close associates, the opposition leader has stated that Karunanayake might step down from the party if the party makes a move in the direction of appointing Premadasa as a deputy leader.

It is widely known among political circles that Premadasa and Karunanayake are at loggerheads over internal issues of the United National Party.

However, addressing a press conference in Colombo, Moneragala District UNP Parliamentarian Ranjith Maddumabandara, a long standing supporter of Premadasa, said the party should take immediate measures to draw the support of Premadasa to the Uva election campaign.

UNP National Leader  Ranil Wickremesinghe has not made any final decision over the appointment of Premadasa. The Leadership Council has informed the party leadership that it has no problem with giving 'due recognition' to Premadasa who is a former Deputy Leader of the party.

The Wckremesinghe-Premadasa nexus was re-established in the recent past with the support of a prominent businessman in Sri Lanka who is also a media tycoon.