The United National Party (UNP) has formally informed President Maithripala Sirisena and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan that the party unanimously backs Ranil Wickremesinghe as the nominee for the Prime Minister's post. 

UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim has sent a letter in this regard to President Sirisena and TNA Leader Sampanthan. 

The letter was followed by the TNA's letter to President Sirisena and all 14 MPs of the party would support the UNP's nominee for the Prime Minister's post. 

The letter was based on the unanimous decision made by the parliamentary group of the party, earlier this week, that it would support Wickremesinghe's appointment as the Prime Minister. 

With the letter from the UNP Chairman to Sampanthan and Sirisena, ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially shown the support of 117 MPs in the House, four members in excess of a simple majority (113).