Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the Tamil National Alliance that a new Constitution that ensures the total abolition of the Executive Presidency and a new electoral system will be introduced to Parliament, within a year after the new government's appointment. The discussion between Wickremesinghe and the TNA took place in Parliament yesterday. The meeting came against the backdrop of tensions within the UNP over the Presidential candidacy. The ability to secure the TNA's support has become a crucial factor in determining the Presidential candidate of the UNP.

At the meeting, Wickremesnghe has told the TNA leaders that the new Constitution would be a remedy to long-running issues faced by the Tamils in the North and East provinces. Sources from both parties confirmed that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the TNA was "highly positive".

Highly-placed UNP sources told Asian Mirror that the TNA leaders have indicated their support to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, the candidate prefered by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.

Although UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa held a discussion with the TNA representatives over the weekend, the meeting did not produce desired results.