Wickremesinghe announces candidacy for SL presidency

Colombo, July 27

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who steered the cash-strapped island nation to a semblance of stability from bankruptcy in 2022, on Saturday declared his candidacy to contest the presidential election on September 21.

On Friday, the island nation’s election commission announced that presidential polls would be held on September 21, ending the months-long speculation over the key contest.

Addressing a rally on Saturday in the southern town of Galle, the 75-year-old leader said: “My coming today to this town is significant, I declare that I will contest the presidential election having already paid my deposit to do so.”

There was some speculation that he may not vie for the presidency given the weak standing of his United National Party (UNP). In 2020, the UNP suffered a split, leading to the creation of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party at present.