Legal Secretary of the United National Party (UNP) President’s Counsel Nissanka Nanayakkara says the UNP Constitution notes that a presidential candidate cannot be named until an election is declared.
Nanayakkara has made this observation in response to the ongoing debate on the potential presidential candidate of the UNP.
According to Nanayakkara, the UNP Constitution has noted that the presidential candidate can be named only after the Elections Commissioner has issued notices to submit nominations for the presidential election and there is no power to make a decision before such an event.
The presidential candidate is to be selected by a nomination board appointed by the UNP Working Committee, he has further stated.
Explaining further, Nanayakkara has said that once the nomination board names a presidential candidate, the Working Committee must approve the nomination.
The UNP Constitution including the provisions on selecting a presidential candidate was drafted by the late President J. R. Jayewardene.
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