Former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the parliamentarians representing the SJB must assess the success or the failure of their leader, Sajith Premadasa.

When asked about Premadasa's prospects at the next national election during a TV interview last night, Wickremesinghe said, "It is up to the parliamentarians of the SJB to decide on that. They formed a party with him for a specific purpose. You must ask them whether they have achieved that," Wickremesinghe quipped.

"Why should I comment on him? I am from a different party and we have only one seat in Parliament," Wickremesinghe said.

Premadasa served as Wickremesinghe's Deputy Leader in the UNP and then went on to form the SJB following a prolonged dispute over the party leadership.

The former Prime Minister also admitted that some MPs of Premadasa's party were still in touch with him.

"Yes, they talk to me. We discuss politics. Most of them have worked with him in the past. So, when they talk to me, I respons to them. What's wrong with that?" the former Prime Minister asked.

However, he dodged the question whether he is plotting a new political alliance with a group of MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.