The Wickremesinghe faction of the UNP has approached the Premadasa group with a proposal to transfer some of party leadership powers to Karu Jayasuriya.

According to the new proposal, Wickremesinghe will have to perform leadership functions in consultation with Karu Jayasuriya. Informed political sources said the future of the UNP crisis depends on the Premadasa group's response to the proposal.

However, the proposal is yet to elicit a response from the Premadasa group which has already formed the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Although several Wickremesinghe loyalists requested Jayasuriya to become the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party, the latter turned down the offer.