Minister Gamini Lokuge today denied rumours that President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will keep away from the next Presidential election.

"There is no truth in such rumours. The President has never made such a statement. Also, there is no need to talk about our candidate for the next Presidential election at this stage. We still have a long way to go," Lokuge said, addressing a press conference at the SLPP office in Battaramulla.

The Minister even former Minister Basil Rajapaksa was suitable to become the party's presidential candidate in 2024.

"No one foresaw the candidatures of Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in 2015 and 2019. But they contested and won the elections. So, there is no need to rush to conclusions," he added.

The Minister, however, said the credit should be attributed to Basil Rajapaksa for strengthening the SLPP as a political party.