Parliamentarian S.B. Dissanayake's call to withdraw the gazette calling for Parliamentary election is an indication of an 'exit strategy' in face of a possible unfavourable ruling against President Maithripala Sirisena by the Supreme Court, a senior UNP MP said. 

Dissanayake, addressing a press conference in Colombo yesterday, publicly urged President Sirisena to withdraw the gazette calling for snap election, saying the current Parliament could complete its full term. 

"This request came ahead of a ruling by the Supreme Court on the matter. The request is an indication the UPFA has come to the realization that it is playing on a bad wicket, " the MP explained.

"The constitution is crystal clear on the matter and they are now thinking of an early exit and a face saving strategy, " he added. 

However, it is also learnt that the Attorney General will also ask for a fuller bench to hear the case which will be taken up in the Supreme Court during the first week of December. 

Assigning a fuller bench to hear the case, however, is at the sole discretion of Chief Justice Nalin Jayalath Perera who headed the three judge bench which stated two gazette notifications issed by President Sirisena, earlier this month.