UNP seniors are now pushing for a secret ballot within the parliamentary group to select the new Opposition Leader.

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has already requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to appoint UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as Opposition Leader.

However, 45 MPs have written a separate letter to the Speaker requesting to appoint Sajith Premadasa as the Leader of the Opposition.

Party leaders in the UNP group including UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim, JHU Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka and ACMC Leader Rishad Bathiudeen have also signed the letter.

Asian Mirror learns that a sizable section of party MPs are pushing for a secret ballot to select the new Opposition Leader.