Sajith Premadasa to Contest Sri Lanka's Presidential Election

Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, has signaled his intention to contest the presidential election on September 21. His nomination, endorsed by his party Samagi Jana Balawegaya, was submitted to the Election Commission. Other prominent names like President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe are also in the fray.

Sri Lanka's Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, announced on Wednesday his likely candidacy in the upcoming September 21 presidential election. His party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has already submitted the election deposit on his behalf to the election commission.

The 57-year-old Premadasa, representing SJB in the current Parliament, formally had his nomination deposited at the Election Commission office in Rajagiriya, a part of Sri Lanka’s administrative capital of Sri Jayewardenepura, located on the outskirts of Colombo.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara, General Secretary of SJB, placed a deposit with the Election Commission to officially nominate Premadasa as the party's candidate for the 2024 Presidential Election, according to media reports.

Premadasa, who currently serves as a Member of Parliament from Colombo, is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa.

On the other hand, 75-year-old President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his intention to run as an independent candidate.

A sizable group of 116 former Provincial Council members from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the United National Party (UNP) have vowed to support President Wickremesinghe in the upcoming election, as per the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The PMD reported on Tuesday that Wickremesinghe has already garnered the support of 92 Members of Parliament.

Other declared candidates include Sarath Keerthirathne, who is running as an independent, Oshala Herath of 'Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna,' and ASP Liyanage of Sri Lanka Workers Party, according to Daily Mirror.

Justice Minister Wijeyedasa Rajapakshe is another potential contender, having resigned from his ministerial role on Monday to run in the presidential race.