While Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Chamal Rajapaksa have officially stated that they are ready to run for the Presidency, Leftist parties in the UPFA coalition are seeking to nominate Dinesh Gunawardena as their Presidential candidate.

The representatives of the leftist parties will meet this evening in Battaramulla to make a final decision on the matter, informed political sources added. 

Leftist parties in the UPFA coalition and several senior leaders of the SLFP have vehemently objected to the proposal to former Defence Secretary Gotbahaya Rajapaksa as their Presidential candidate. They have proposed to nominate an alternative figure who can draw the support of a wide section of the population, including ethnic and religious minorities.

Dinesh Gunawardena was the de-facto leader of the Joint Opposition in Parliament and currently serves as the Chief Opposition Whip. He is also the Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, a constituent party of the UPFA coalition.  

It has also been reported that Maithripala Sirisena is considering a joint alliance with the SLPP in the hope of securing the candidacy. Leftist parties, however, have refused to support Maithripala Sirisena as the alliance's Presidential candidate.