The United National Party today announced that the party would conveniently defeat the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and commence their presidential campaign for 2020. 

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Pitakotte, a short while ago, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said even some MPs representing the JO would vote against the no-confidence motion. 

"There will be many surprises. We will emphatically defeat the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister. That will also be the starting point of our presidential election campaign," he added. 

Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara, who also attended the press conference, affirmed the Education Minister's remarks. 

Bandara said the party was confidence that over 120 MPs would vote against the no-confidence motion. 

He also added all political parties representing the United National Front and a few other political forces would stand by the Prime Minister.