Former Prime Minister and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe held a crucial meeting with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya last night on the UNP's leadership issue.

The meeting took place at the Speaker's residence.

It is also reported that before meeting the former Prime Minister, the Speaker had a discussion with several top members representing the Premadasa camp.

Wickremesinghe previously mooted a leadership council comprising himself, Jayasuriya and Premadasa. The proposal, however, did not elicit a positive response from the UNP Parliamentary group.