Several UNP stalwarts supporting Sajith Premadasa including Ajith P. Perera and Sujeewa Senasinghe have influenced the latter to break away from the party and contest seperately, should the UNP decide to field Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as the presidential candidate.

According to sources familiar with the internal discussions, the rebels had pointed out to Premadasa that it would make more sense to contest separately and relegate the UNP to the third place at the next presidential election.

"Their thinking is that it will force Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe out of the party after the presidential election allowing Premadasa to come back and lead the party at the Parliamentary election mid next year," a highly-placed spokesman said.

However, it is learnt that the proposal has not elicited a positive response from Minister Sajith Premadasa so far.

A close associate of Premadasa said the UNP Deputy Leader would weigh his options carefully before making a final decision on the matter.

"It is still not clear whether Premadasa will be able to draw the support of the majority of MPs should he break away from the party. It may also oust him from the party permanently," he said, adding that the move could be "politically suicidal".

"However, the UNP still has not made a final decision on the presidential candidacy and we will fight within the party until the last moment," he added.