Naming prime ministerial candidate not realistic; Ranil tells Harin
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has told Opposition Leader of the Uva Provincial Council Harin Fernando that naming a prime ministerial candidate in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential election is not realistic as the party was campaigning for the abolition of the executive presidency.
Wickremesinghe has explained that the UNP needed to adopt a political strategy taking into consideration that the executive presidency will be abolished to pave the way for a government answerable to Parliament headed by a premier. Wickremesinghe was responding to Fernando’s plea to declare recently appointed UNP Deputy Leader and MP Sajith Premadasa as the UNP’s prime ministerial candidate in the run-up to the next presidential election.
Addressing a meeting of Kolonnawa bala mandalaya last Saturday, Fernando declared that the success of Wickremesinghe’s presidential election candidature would largely depend on Premadasa spearheading the campaign as the prospective prime minister.
Well informed sources told The Island that Wickremesinghe, who had held the premiership twice, briefly, had emphasized that Deputy Leader Premadasa could play a pivotal role in the campaign, along with other young UNP parliamentarians. Responding to a query, a party official said that former MP Fernando had pledged to throw his weight behind the project to do away with the executive presidency.
Wickremesinghe also reminded Fernando that the party was in the process of organizing a big protest in Colombo on October 24 to coincide with President Rajapaksa presenting budget 2015.
The UNP leadership has directed all electoral organisers to ensure maximum participation of supporters.
(Courtesy: The Island)

Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sajith Premadasa slams Government over CEB losses, condemns proposed tariff hike May 18, 2025
- Sri Lanka marks 16 years since end of war against LTTE May 18, 2025
- Shooting and assault on Thusitha Halloluwa in Narahenpita May 17, 2025
- CEB proposes 18.3% electricity tariff hike from June 2025 May 17, 2025
- Sajith leads opposition talks to seize local council control May 17, 2025
This means still UNP not getting a chance.
the United national party will never win a general election so Mr.Ranil is right there is no need to name a prime ministerial candidate cos the UNP will allways be in the opposition until Mr.Ranil is leader coz supporters will never vote
He might renew his own previous record…..!