Four-member committee to pick UNP’s presidential candidate

The United National Party (UNP) has appointed a four-member committee to decide on its presidential candidate, says State Minister Ajith Mannapperuma.

The committee comprises Ministers Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Rajitha Senaratne and prime-ministerial adviser Dinesh Weerakkody, he stated.

The committee will submit a proposal to the Working Committee of the UNP on the most suitable candidate from the party to contest in the presidential election, the state minister added.

When asked about Minister Sajith Premadasa’s letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe urging that the UNP’s presidential candidate be nominated this week, the state minister responded that a large number of members have applied for the candidacy.

He added that defeating SLPP’s presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa is not a difficult task.