UNP to name presidential candidate after election is declared

As per the constitution of the United National Party (UNP) a presidential candidate cannot be named until an election is declared, stated the Legal Secretary of the UNP. 

UNP Legal Secretary President’s Counsel Nissanka Nanayakkara stated this commenting on the ongoing debate on the potential presidential candidate of the UNP.

According to Nanayakkara, under the UNP constitution, the presidential candidate can be named only after the Elections Commission calls for nominations for the presidential election and there is no power to make a decision before such an event.

Further, the presidential candidate is to be selected by a nomination board appointed by the UNP Working Committee, he elaborated.

Once the nomination board names a presidential candidate, the Working Committee must approve the nomination, he added.

Nanayakkara also pointed out that the UNP Constitution including these provisions were drafted by the late President J. R. Jayawardene.