If Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe does not agree to nominate Sajith Premadasa as the party's Presidential candidate, the latter will suppor seperately under a new party, a Parliamentarian supporting Premadasa said.

He said a fina decision on the UNP Presidential candidacy should be made this week.

Speaking to the media yesterdya, Minister Ajith P. Perera said they would 'politically' defeat Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe if the latter decided to contest the Presidential election.

"All I can say is that Sajith Premadasa will contest the Presidential election. It's only a matter of how he is going to do it," Perera said. The Minister said Premadasa had stated on record that he would run for the Presidency this year.

It is also reported that President Sirisena is also negotiating to extend his support to Sajith Premadasa's campaign for the Presidency.

"The SLFP has made a principled decision to stay away from the UNP. However, if Premadasa contests under a separate alliance, we can consider extending our support to him," a close ally of President Sirisena said.