UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa said he was ready to sacrifice his life for the betterment of the country.

Addressing a UNP rally in Badulla this evening, Premadasa said he wwas not reluctantly to make the supreme sacrifice to fulfill the wishes of the UNP supporters. the rally was organized by Minister Harin Fernando to project Premadasa as the Presidential candidate of the party.

Premadasa told the cheering UNP supporters that he was confident about securing the "top job" later this yera. However, in his speech, he did not directly refer to the Presidency.

The UNP Deputy Leader also promised to create a merit-based country with a strong focus on a technology-based economy.

A number of UNP MPs namely Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickremaratne, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Ravindra Samaraweera, Chandrani Bandara, Ashok Abeysinghe, Dilip Wedaarachchi and Hesha Withanage also attended the rally.

However, none of the UNP front-line office bearers attended the meeting suggesting the sharp divisions in the party over Premadasa's bid to secure Presidential candidacy.