UNP Deputy Leader Minister Sajith Premadasa said he formally handed over a letter to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing his intention to run for the Presidential election.

Addressing a press conference at the residence of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Premadasa said the UNP should select its Presidential candidate in a democratic manner.

"The Working Committee and the parliamentary group should be convened to make a decision on the candidate. I must reiterate that the candidate should be selected with the consent of the Working Committee and the parliamentary group," Premadasa said.

"Our party is not dominated by a family nor do we make important decisions at family dinner tables. Hence, the democratic process must prevail."

"If there are other candidates keen on running for the presidency, let them come forward. We can make the final decision through a secret ballot in line with democratic traditions. Just because I made my intentions public, I need not necessarily have my way," Premadasa added.

When asked whether he would run for the presidency should the UNP field a different candidate, Premadasa said such a situation would not arise.

"I am confident that I will be selected by the party as the candidate. Therefore, I have no intentions of running separately," he said.

At the press conference, Premadasa was flanked by Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Kabir Hashim, Malik Samarawickrama, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Chandrani Bandara.