Possible TNA support for Ranil over Sajith : Sources

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has said that it would not support the candidacy of Minister Sajith Premadasa, United National Party (UNP) sources said.

During a meeting held between the two parties, TNA leader R. Sampanthan had said that Mr. Premadasa was yet to submit a plan to resolve the issues faced by those in the North.

Mr. Sampanthan had made these remarks when the UNP had inquired into the TNA's stance if Mr. Premadasa was nominated as the presidential candidate of the UNP, the source said.

The TNA leader had noted that they would support the candidacy of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe since he had previously addressed the issues of the Northern people.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Rajitha Senaratne, and Malik Samarawickrama had represented the UNP while the TNA had been represented by parliamentarians M.A. Sumanthiran and R. Sampanthan.

The meeting had taken place at the residence of Minister Samaraweera.

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)