Sri Lanka signs 25-year $100 million budget support loan – Sri Lanka Mirror – Right to Know. Forces for Change

Just hours before the Sri Lanka People’s Front (SLPP) announced its candidates, entrepreneur Dhammika Perera has rejected the party’s presidential candidacy.

In a letter to Sri Lanka People’s Party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, Perera said he withdrew from the race for personal reasons.

Namal or Dinesh?

In a statement issued earlier today (August 6), the Sri Lanka People’s Party said that a ceremony to announce the presidential candidate will be held at 7am tomorrow at the party headquarters, presided over by party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, The Leader website reported that party top brass have asked Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to accept the candidacy.

The website further stated, citing sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, that Gunawardena allegedly rejected the proposal.

However, the Daily Mirror quoted Sri Lanka People’s Party founder Basil Rajapaksa as confirming that Namal Rajapaksa will be announced as the Sri Lanka People’s Party presidential candidate.

Earlier today, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abewardena also announced to Parliament that MP Namal Rajapaksa has resigned as the chairman of the International Relations Department Oversight Committee.