The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) faction which has decided to field a separate candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election denied reports suggesting that they are preparing to sit in the Parliamentary Opposition.

The Politburo of the SLPP which recently met at the official residence of former President and incumbent SLPP Leader and Government Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo, decided to field a Presidential candidate of its own instead of supporting President and independent Presidential candidate, United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In response to subsequent claims that the SLPP faction led by the Rajapaksas (a reference to the families of former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa), the SLPP's Media Spokesperson, Government MP Sanjeeva Edirimanna told The Daily Morning that there is no preparation for them to sit in the Parliamentary Opposition. 

“There is no such plan. The Parliament is not related to the Presidential Election. Why should we sit in the Opposition? I even doubt if there will be time for the Parliament to convene before the Presidential Election,” he said.

The SLPP has stated that it decided not to support Wickremesinghe in the Presidential Election due to reasons such as continuing to work against the SLPP's policies and not having any prior discussions with the SLPP about running for the Presidential Election. However, a significant number of SLPP members including Cabinet and State Ministers and MPs have already expressed their support to Wickremesinghe.