Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who yesterday announced his preparedness to take over the leadership of the United National Party (UNP), seems to be out of the party's leadership race. The UNP Working Committee that met this evening decided that the contenders for the party leadership should either be an office bearer of the party or a member of the Working Committee. Since Jayasuriya holds neither post, it seems he is out of the leadership race. A senior UNP source told The Morning that it seems unlikely that Jayasuriya could stake a claim to the post following the Working Committee decision this evening. "However, the Working Committee will decide on the new UNP leader at the next Working Committee meeting most probably next week," the source said.