In an unexpected turn of events, businessman Dhammika Perera has distanced himself from a newspaper advertisement published last Sunday that suggested his potential candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. The advertisement, purportedly from a company owned by Dhammika Perera, has been disclaimed by the businessman's office, asserting no connection to him or his affiliated companies.

A spokesperson for Dhammika Perera clarified that the advertisement, despite its apparent association with a company under his ownership, is entirely unrelated to the businessman or any of his business ventures. The disavowal has raised questions about the origins and motives behind the publication of the advertisement.

The spokesperson emphasized the significance of media institutions rigorously verifying the authenticity of advertisements before publication to prevent potential public misinformation.

It is noteworthy that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) recently announced Dhammika Perera as one of four candidates under consideration for the 2024 presidential candidacy.