President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced his intention to contest the upcoming Presidential election, ‘theleader.lk‘ reports.

Making the announcement during yesterday’s (18) cabinet meeting, he had added that campaigning will commence from next month and urged the support of all the ministers.

Meanwhile, the website also says the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has refuted reports of prominent businessman – Dhammika Perera being named as the party’s presidential candidate.

The report cites a leading SLPP member as saying that such a decision can only be taken by the party politburo, which has not met since last Saturday.