There were enough heavyweights within the United National Party to contest the forthcoming presidential election and there was ample time to field one of them, UNP Kurunegala District Parliamentarian Johnston Fernando told the media yesterday in Colombo.

Ranil Wickremesinghe knew that he could not win an election, Fernando said. "Bringing in General Sarath Fonseka by sacrificing the party symbol to safeguard his position was a situation similar to making Gamini Dissanayake the presidential candidate in 1994," he said.

UNP Deputy leader, S. B. Dissanayake...