Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated that he will support Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to become the Presidential candidate of the UNP.

Meanwhile, a group of Buddhist monks led by Ven. Matale Dhammakusala Anu Nayaka Thera, who met Prime Minister Wickremesinghe today, has requested the Prime Minister to lead the party in the upcoming Presidential election, with Jayasuriya as the Presidential candidate.

If Jayasuriya runs for the presidency, his key campaign theme would be the total abolition of the Executive Presidency. Informed political sources said Jayasuriya would pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency within a specified period.

Jayasuriya previously said he would consider running for the presidency on the UNP ticket should the party unanimously decide to field him as a candidate.

"Consensus is our strength to overcome challenges to our democracy, security, and the path to prosperity. With conscientious accord among all forward-looking political parties, intellectuals and civil society on a common agenda, Sri Lanka will thrive and make lives better for all," Jayasuriya tweeted this evening, indicating his intentions.