The United National Party (UNP) has decided to field party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe or Karu Jayasuriya as the 'common candidate' if Ms. Kumaratunga is not contesting the presidential election.

Meanwhile, the senior vice president of UNP MP Ranjith Maddumabandara stated that the mission on fielding a 'common candidate' for the forthcoming presidential election is being carried out successfully.

He further stated that this development had left the Rajapaksa government shaken.