Senior UNP member, MP Ravi Karunanayaka, called on Sajith Premadasa to take a lead at the Southern Provincial Council election next year, whilst announcing his intention to contest as UNP, for the Western Provincial Council.
Sajith has repeatedly undermined attempts by UNP members to establish a Leadership Council in order to address the party's decline and its leadership crisis, prompting a warning from Buddhist clergy last month that threatened "stern action". (See 'UNP's saffron party whip')
The plea comes as reports, citing government sources, state the Western and Southern Provincial Councils are to be dissolved later this month, with elections being held in March.
According to Karunanayaka, the party is currently having discussions with other political parties, regarding the possibility of contesting the elections as a common opposition.