However, 'Sri Lanka Mirror' learns that the Minister has not made a positive response to the request.

It is widely discussed among political circles that Minister Maithripala Sirisena is to contest as the common candidate against President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, the United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who returned to the island today (19), has informed the party secretary to convene the working committee next Friday.

A decision on the common candidate is to be made at the particular working committee meeting.