He was responding to queries raised by 'Sri Lanka Mirror' on whether he would support Premadasa if the latter was named as presidential candidate by the UNP Working Committee.

On being asked whether he was expecting to be the presidential candidate himself, Jayasuriya said :

"I will accept it if I am tasked with the responsibility... However, it is a tradition of the UNP for the party leader to be fielded as the presidential candidate... If the Working Committee decides to appoint another instead it is the duty of us all to ensure the victory of that particular candidate...However, I would back the decision of the party."