Rumours that Ranil is coming for Presidential elections

Rumours that Ranil is coming for Presidential elections

The debate whether it is Karu or Sajith who would be contesting for the forthcoming Presidential elections has gone very far while media from the leading stream has all of a sudden reported on Friday night that present Prime Minister Ranil is to come forward for the Presidential contest. Whatever it is, minister Harin Fernando has informed the media that upto now no decision has been arrived at but that the final decision in this connection would be taken next
Sunday (8). 

As reported, Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasigha and some senior ministers of United National Party had engaged in a special discussion this morning (6) at Temple Trees. Seniors such as Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Lakshman Kiriella and Kabir Hasheem participated in this discussion. By now it has been discussed as to who is most popular while it was informed that directions of Sajith, Ranil and Karu have looked forward to shares in the party. "If there is a big crowd who favour me coming ... I myself can come", Ranil has quipped. In this context what minister Lakshman Kiriella and chairman of the party Mr. Kabir Hasheem have said was that Sajith is at the forefront. The Prime Minister Ranil has then said that if that is brought forward as the conclusion, it is necessary that other matters need to be discussed. Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha has consented to go into a discussion with deputy minister of United National Party Mr. Sajith Premadasa regarding Presidential candidacy. Therefore, a meeting for this purpose has been arranged tomorrow of day after tomorrow. 

It is understood that the final decision would most likely be arrived at in the executive committee meeting to be convened on Sunday (8) once the meeting comes to a close. Picking an extract of this discussion, several leading media have reported that the UNP candidate for the next Presidential election would be Ranil.