Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will field a common candidate for presidency as it had always done in the past, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.   

“We will field a common candidate as we have done in the past. Everyone will see how powerful our candidate is going to be,” he told journalists.   

Asked whether his party will support incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former President said they will do so if Mr. Wickremesinghe remains with his party. “We will support Ranil if he remains with us,” he said.   

Meanwhile UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said Wickremesinghe’s candidacy will be officially announced as soon as the election commission announces the date of the Presidential election. “We will officially announce our leader’s candidacy as soon as the date for the Presidential election is announced,” he said.