By Our Political Editor The United National Party (UNP), which is in the process of formulating a grand political alliance, has requested a meeting with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to discuss a political partnership. UNP General Secretary Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam had sent a letter to the SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara yesterday (28) requesting for an appointment to discuss the formation of a political alliance between the two parties. Kariyawasam had said that the UNP will be represented at the meeting by Party Leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP presidential candidate Minister Sajith Premadasa, and himself (Kariyawasam) as the Party Secretary. Kariyawasam told The Sunday Morning that the UNP plans to discuss the current political situation in the country and the way forward with the SLFP. SLFP General Secretary Jayasekara confirmed to The Sunday Morning that he had received a request for a meeting to discuss a political alliance with the UNP. The proposed alliance between the UNP and SLFP is targeted for the upcoming presidential election. The UNP Working Committee and its parliamentary group on Thursday (26) unanimously endorsed the presidential candidacy of UNP Deputy Leader Premadasa, who will also be the presidential candidate of the United National Front (UNF). Political parties represented in the UNF – the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) – have expressed their support to Premadasa’s candidature. Premadasa’s candidacy is to be further endorsed at a UNP convention scheduled to be held on 3 October at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and the election campaign is to be kicked off with a rally on 10 October at the Galle Face Green. Premadasa is to also contest under the “swan” symbol of the New Democratic Front (NDF), which also fielded President Sirisena as the common candidate at the last presidential election in 2015. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa has also been trying to form an alliance with the SLFP. However, talks between the two parties have hit a stalemate over the symbol of the proposed alliance.