During the recently concluded presidential polls, around 58 MPs have directly supported Mr. Premadasa and now, the figure has come down to 27.

Accordingly, only 27 members have signed the proposal to appoint Sajith Premadasa as party leader.

These 27 MPs have have handed over a letter to party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (13) urging to summon the UNP Working Committee to ratify this request.

However, about 20 MPs who have formerly supported Sajith Premadasa have proposed that the UNP should establish a leadership council and appoint Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as party leader.

These MPs were also scheduled to meet at the UNP headquarters - Sirikotha yesterday (13).

Meanwhile, MPs Thalatha Athukorala and Ranjith Madduma Bandara, on Dec. 12 resigned from the six-member committee appointed by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to restructure the party.