UNP candidate under pressure to contest independently!

 Monday, 27 October 2014 

A group of government politicians has informed the UNP leader that they are prepared to support a candidate from the party, if that candidate contests the presidential election as an independent candidate.

They have said that it would be difficult for the SLFP or the UPFA to back a UNP activist who will contest under the ‘elephant’ symbol.

They have expressed agreement to extend unconditional support to a UNP candidate who will contest under a different symbol.

Furthermore, if such an opposition candidate wins, the UNP will not face a constitutional crisis with regard to its leadership. That is because, the party constitution says the winner should automatically be appointed the party leader as well. However, other than winning the election, the governing of the country should be led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Therefore, a UNP candidate contesting under a different symbol as an independent will help avert such a situation, a UNP activist who held talks on this matter with various quarters, told ‘Lanka News Web.’