Anura Kumara to join race for presidency

The leader of National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided to enter the race for the presidency alongside three other frontrunners.

MP Vijitha Herath told a media briefing held at the NPP headquarters today that the party will nominate its leader for the election in the parliament for the office of President, scheduled to be held on July 20.

Meanwhile, Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will also contest to become the country’s next Head of State, which was left vacant after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to step down following unprecedented anti-government protests.

However, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which holds the majority in the current parliament, remains divided on their nominee.

MP Alahapperuma yesterday expressed his intention to vie for the presidency. Soon after he made his decision public, SLPP general-secretary Sagara Kariyawasam announced that the party would back Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the election.

Last night, the Opposition Leader stated that he intends to run for the presidency. In a tweet, the leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said: “I am contesting to be the President. Electorate is confined to 225 MPs with the GR coalition dominating the numbers. Even though it is an uphill struggle I am convinced that truth will prevail.”