Business tycoon Dhammika Perera is slated to be named the presidential candidate of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP ) by the middle of this week, a party source said.Earlier , SLPP has been promoting him as the candidate. The party decided to field its own candidate last week instead of backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Mr.  Perera earlier said it is up to the SLPP to decide who its presidential candidate should be. He is one of the leading businessmen in Sri Lanka.