The group of UNP MPs backing the presidential candidacy of Minister Sajith Premadasa has given the party leadership time till next Monday, to call for a meeting of the Working Committee (WC) to take a final decision on the party candidate, a minister said.

Minister Ajith P.Perera told the Daily Mirror yesterday that his group would call for a secret ballot to decide on the candidate if there were more than one nominee.

He said the group supporting Mr. Premadasa would explore other avenues to contest the elections if it failed to secure a nomination from the party. However, he declined to elaborate on such steps.

“There is no need to talk about them now,” he said.

He said his group was getting ready for the rally to be conducted in Matara today in support of Mr. Premadasa. (Kelum Bandara)