Former Army Commander (Retired) General Mahesh Senanayake has been annouced the Presidential Candididate of the National People's Movement (NPM).

The NPM is is backed by 17 civic organizations, including Sarvodaya’s Deshodaya, and is governed by an interim leadership council whose plan is to change the country’s political system by flushing out corrupt leaders and replacing them with upstanding personalities.

Speaking at the NPM mega event at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, (Rt.) General Mahesh Senanayake said his entrance into politics was not for politics sake but to change the country for the better, with the help of its citizens.

The NPM's stated vision is to build a ‘people-centric, progressive and efficient Sri Lanka, free of corruption, where equality, justice and respectfulness prevail’.