Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday hinted at the possibility of him being the common candidate of the United National Front (UNF) at the next presidential elections. A senior Cabinet Minister however, told The Sunday Morning that the UNP had not yet taken any decision on the candidate yet. The Minister also said that there was a possibility that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would contest, if he had the support of the UNF. Jayasuriya told the reporters in Kandy yesterday that he was ready to fulfil his national responsibility should there be a request to do so. Following a meeting with the Mahanayaka Theros during a visit to Kandy, the Speaker said that he would fulfil his responsibility to ensure that democracy, justice, and the people’s rights were safeguarded in the country. Responding to a query regarding whether he would contest the next presidential election, the Speaker said he had never asked for any positions but was willing to step in to ensure the protection of democracy in the country. Meanwhile, Leader of the House and Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage, and Kandy Development Lakshman Kiriella stated that there was a possibility Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would contest the election. However, several UNP backbenchers were in support of the party’s Deputy Leader Sajith Premedasa for the post. When The Sunday Morning contacted the UNP’s Deputy General Secretary Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, he said that the UNP Working Committee had not yet met to decide on the presidential candidate. However, he said the party was preparing for an election.