UNP MPs, working committee Convene meeting, name Sajith Prez candidate: UNPers

• Hesha says letter signed by party seniors, ministers and back-benches sent to Premier

By Sandun A Jayasekera

Ratnapura District, United National Party (UNP) MP Hesha Withanage said party seniors, Cabinet Ministers, State and Deputy Ministers and back-benchers wrote to Party Leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting him to  convene the UNP’s parliamentary group and the working committee and to name Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the party’s presidential candidate.

While on his way to Badulla to participate in the launching of Mr. Premadasa’s campaign said the entire country wanted Sajith as the UNP’s presidential candidate because he was the one and only politician who can save the country from the impending threat of Sri Lanka being taken over by ruthless military dictator.   

“The letter to convene a meeting of the parliamentary group and the working committee was signed by 52 ministers, state and deputy ministers and back-benchers while the request to nominate Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was signed by 28 UNPers, most of them elected to Parliament in 2015,” the MP said. “We pleaded with the Prime Minister to come to terms with reality and that just the suggestion to nominate Mr. Premadasa as the presidential candidate has created much enthusiasm among UNPers, first time voters, minorities and others across the country. The proposed Democratic National Front (DNF) alliance led by the UNP has a real chance to win the presidential election with Mr. Premadasa as the presidential candidate.” 

He said the letter also mentioned that Mr. Wickremesinghe could serve as the Prime Minister until the general elections to be held in August 2020.   

Meanwhile, the MP said a large number of UNP MPs, members of Pradeshiya Sabhas and former provincial councillors were expected to attend the Badulla rally.  

The letter to convene a meeting of the parliamentary group and the  working committee was signed by 52 ministers, state and deputy ministers  and back-benchers while the request to nominate Deputy Leader Sajith  Premadasa was signed by 28 UNPers