• Gen. Secy. claims Working Comm. & Nat. Conv. both approved ‘independent’ candidacy

The United National Party (UNP) of the Government stated that Party Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest the upcoming Presidential Election in the same manner as the former President and incumbent Opposition Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena contested in the 2015 Presidential Election.

With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held this year (2024), several leading political parties have revealed their plans for it.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, UNP General Secretary Palitha Rangebandara said that Wickremesinghe would contest the Presidential Election as an independent candidate, similar to how Sirisena did in 2015. "Sirisena was a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member by 2015, but he did not contest the Presidential Election from the SLFP. He was fielded as an independent candidate. Wickremesinghe will contest under the same concept. It will be similar to being a common candidate." 

He further said that the UNP's Working Committee had already granted its approval for Wickremesinghe to contest as an independent candidate. "We as the Party will support his candidacy. The Working Committee has already decided on it. It was also approved during the UNP's National Convention. The other parties will also rally around him to support his victory."

Several leading political parties have hinted at the candidates who would possibly be fielded by them. Among them are Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and National People's Power Leader and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Dhammika Perera.