Dassanayake informed the House, which met under tight security, that nominations for presidency should be submitted to him on July 19. He also said if more than one candidate has submitted nominations, a vote would be taken in parliament on July 20 to elect the new President. The 225-member Parliament is dominated by Rajapaksa’s ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party.
Besides Wickremesinghe, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dullas Alahapperuma, a breakaway SLPP candidate, are the other three leaders who have so far announced their candidacy.
The new president will serve for the rest of Rajapaksa’s term until November 2024. The new president could appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by the parliament. The ruling SLPP has officially announced its backing for Wickremesinghe. The 73-yearold politician is currently is the frontrunner though his United National Party (UNP) was routed in the 2020 parliamentary election. Wickremesinghe announced that he has decided to implement an urgent relief programme to provide fuel, gas and essential food items to the public.
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