Former Minister and SLPP Stalwart Basil Rajapaksa said a President from the SLPP would assume office on December 09. 

Speaking to the media in Matara, Rajapaksa confidently said the SLPP candidate would secure victory at the next Presidential election. 

This statement comes a few days after Rajapaksa said the Presidential candidate of the SLPP would only be a party member. 

While making that statement, Rajapaksa, a key decision-maker of the SLPP, indicated that it would not back a candidate from another party to run for the presidency on the SLPP ticket. 

This is an implicit objection to President Maithripala Sirisena's move to become the Presidential candidate of the SLPP-led alliance.