UNP Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara said the party's presidential candidate would be announced once the Presidential election is formally declared by the Elections Commission.

In a statement, Nanayakkara said, according to the party constitution, the Presidential candidate could only be announced after the declaration of the election.

By making the statement, UNP Legal Secretary Nanayakkara sought to handicap the UNP rebels campaigning to promote party Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa's presidential candidacy bid.

Nanayakkara said this was the tradition practiced by the party since the time of former President J.R. Jayawardena

The election is likely to be announced by the Elections Commisison in early October. The Presidential election is likely to take place before the end of November.