• According to party constitution, UNP cannot name presidential candidate until nominations called: UNP legal secretary
• UNP to take disciplinary action against Rathana Thero and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

According to the United National Party (UNP) constitution, the presidential candidate cannot be named until the Elections Commission (EC) call for nominations for a Presidential Election, the UNP Legal Secretary Nissanka Nanayakkara said yesterday. 

Issuing a statement, Nanayakkara said according to the UNP constitution, the party’s Central Committee should appoint a nomination committee to name the presidential candidate. 

“The nomination committee will submit its decision to the Central Committee, and that name should be approved by them,” the statement said.  He recalled that former President J.R. Jayewardene had included a special provision on how to name a presidential candidate for the UNP. 

Nanayakkara also stated the UNP had decided to take disciplinary action against MP Athuraliye Rathana Thero and MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, for violating the party’s disciplinary code. He stated the inquiry will commence from today.  

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