Former UNP MP Arjuna Ranatunga said he was willing to take up the leadership of the UNP.

"I am ready to be the leader of the party if everyone agrees on it," Ranatunga said while speaking to media today.

He expressed his intentions to take up the party leadership a day after Ruwan Wijewardena positioned himself as a candidate for the UNP leadership.

Over eight senior members of the party have expressed willingness to lead the party which was decimated at the last Parliamentary election.

None of them, however, have managed to secure their seats at the last Parliamentary election.