The United National Party (UNP), currently the main constituent of the present government led by the SLFP’s President Maithripala Sirisena, has decided to contest the upcoming general election on its own, according to Plantation Minister Lakshman Kiriella.
The minister said the party's working committee passed a resolution to this effect on Friday morning and had also authorised UNP leader and prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to make decisions on the election.
Mr Kiriella also stated another resolution was passed, asking for the withdrawal of the no-confidence motions placed on the parliament order book. The opposition has to-date submitted three no-confidence motions – against Mr Wickremesinghe, against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and against Public Order Minister John Amaratunga.