Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed all UNP MPs to refrain from making statements on the party's Presidential candidate.

Wickremesinghe has made this request at the Parliamentary group meeting of the UNP last evening.

Wickremesinghe has said the party is yet to make a final decision on the Presidential candidate and the correct decision will be made at the current time.

Several MPs pointed out at the group meeting that various statements made by party MPs on the UNP's Presidential candidate have created confusion on the minds of party activists and supporters.

The next Presidential election is due to later this year and none of the main political parties have named their presidential candidates thus far.