The United National Party's (UNP) stand is different to the call by its general secretary Palitha Range Bandara that both the president and the current parliament should get their terms extended by two years, said UNP leader for Colombo Ravi Karunanayake.

The presidential polls will take place as scheduled and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is certain to contest as a nonpartisan candidate, Karunanayake insisted.

He is responding to a call by Range Bandara yesterday (28) to hold a referendum to extend the terms “to save the nation.”

That is essential to realize the economic reforms pacts signed by the government with the IMF, World Bank and other creditors, he said.

Range Bandara’s call raised concerns across the political spectrum, with parties claiming it to be an attempt by Wickremesinghe to check the public response.

However, Karunanayake said it was nothing more than the personal opinion of the UNP general secretary.

“It is not the president’s decision,” he said.

Other options are pointless than working in realization of the public trust, he added.

TheLeader