Minister Kanchana Wijesekera stated that a majority of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs believe that President Ranil Wickramasinghe should be the presidential candidate for the upcoming election.

He clarified that there is nothing wrong with Wickramasinghe's reappointment as President and that the party is ready to take necessary steps for the presidential election. The minister made these comments in a television program on April 3.

Meanwhile, another party official told Asian Mirror that the Podujana Peramuna has not yet decided on a candidate for the next presidential election, and there have been no discussions about nominating Basil Rajapaksa as a candidate. The source flatly dismissed claims made by another political party member that Rajapaksa had been named as the next candidate.

However, it is reported that many young members of the cabinet and state ministers in the government are preparing to support Mr. Wickramasinghe.