Mahayana Eksath Peramuna Leader Dinesh Gunawardena's name has surfaced as a front-runner for the presidential candidacy of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.

Gunawardena, a senior politician in the opposition, is one of the prominent figures in the Joint Opposition.

Although former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was the party's first choice for the Presidential candidacy, strong doubts have been cast upon his eligibility to run for the election. The US authorities have not issued a formal statement this far confirming that Rajapaksa has renounced his US citizenship.

The former Defence Secretary is currently in Singapore recovering from a heart surgery.

It is against this backdrop that Ginawardena's name has surfaced as a potential Presidential candidate.

Commenting on the matter, UPFA MP Ranjith De Zoysa said several names were being considered for the SLPP's Presidential candidacy. "We have requested Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to make a final decision on the matter and we will stick with his decision, " he added.