President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday invited United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to form a government and called him for a discussion today in order to decide on the appointment of a Prime Minister and Cabinet for the 12th Parliament.

Kumaratunga had already had discussions with former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake on the same issues, a press release from the presidential secretariat said.

Kumaratunga wished to deliberate with Wickremesinghe on the "measures that need to be taken under Article 43(3) and 44(1) with regard to these appointments, the press release said.