Wickremesinghe to Contest as Independent Candidate, says UNP General Secretary

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to run for office later this year as an independent candidate, said his party's General Secretary. Palitha Range Bandara, the General Secretary of the United National Party speaking to reporters following a meeting with the Election Commission on Wednesday (17) said that he requested the election body to hold the election in the shortest possible time and, as soon as possible. In response to questions that the UNP in fact wanted to delay the election, Range Bandara said he requested for an immediate election to ensure that the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna are defeated as soon as possible. He said that the SJB and the JVP-led NPP pose no threat to the candidacy of Wickremesinghe. The UNP General Secretary was confident that Ranil Wickremesinghe will emerge victorious with a record number of votes at the upcoming presidential election.