UNP’s Karu denies seeking to be nominated as candidate

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today denied claims that he submitted a written request to be nominated as the Presidential candidate of the United National Party (UNP).

Jayasuriya says he had never asked to be nominated as the Presidential candidate but had only expressed his policy if he is to be President.

The Speaker had said this week that any prospect of him accepting a nomination to contest as a presidential candidate would be conditioned upon the support of all forces united behind the critical objective of abolishing the executive presidency, which has been the objective of civil society since 1995.

Adding further Speaker Jayasuriya also said that strengthening the 19th Amendment to the Constitution must be part of the mandate if he is to contest.